Third court orders Ang’s arrest as gov’t hikes bounty to P20M
A regional trial court (RTC) in San Pablo, Laguna, has ordered the arrest of Charlie “Atong” Ang and five other police officers on charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of at least 34 “sabungeros” (cockfighting aficionados).
Presiding Judge Luvina Roque of the San Pablo RTC Branch 29 issued a warrant of arrest on Feb. 6 for the gambling tycoon and Police Lt. Col. Ryan Orapa, Police Staff Sgt. Alfredo Andes, Police Maj. Philip Almedilla, Police Senior Master Sgt. Joey Encarnacion and Police Executive Master Sgt. Aaron Cabillan.
Ang remains at large despite a bounty of P10 million offered by the government for any information leading to his capture. On Thursday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said they were raising the reward to P20 million.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it received, also on Thursday, a copy of the arrest order from the San Pablo court, the last of three courts where the DOJ filed the criminal charges against Ang and his coaccused over the disappearances of the sabungeros between 2021 and 2022.
On Jan. 13, the Sta. Cruz, Laguna RTC issued four separate arrest warrants for Ang and 17 others. Three of the warrants were in connection with the 15 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention, while the fourth was for four counts of kidnapping with homicide.
The kidnapping with homicide charges were related to the deaths of sabungeros identified as Ferdinand Dizon, Mark Paul Fernandine, Melbert John Santos and Manny Magbanua.
Two days later, a Lipa City, Batangas RTC also issued an arrest order against a total of 15 accused, including six civilians, for kidnapping with homicide.
Still no sign of fugitive
Since the issuance of the warrants, authorities have yet to find Ang despite a nationwide manhunt that took them to the gaming tycoon’s known properties in Mandaluyong City, Lipa City and Dasmariñas City in Cavite.
All his 21 other coaccused in the cases have already been arrested and are in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police.
Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida earlier expressed confidence that Ang remains in the Philippines, as it continually seeks assistance from the diplomatic community.
Over the weekend, the Cambodian government said that Ang was not in their country.
“We are studying it (Cambodia’s statement). We really believe he is still here in the Philippines. We have points of interest,” Remulla said, without expounding on their leads. —WITH REPORTS FROM TETCH TORRES-TUPAS AND JASON SIGALES
