The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched a nationwide operation to prevent the possible escape of businessman and gaming tycoon Charlie "Atong" Ang, who is wanted in connection with the high-profile case of missing cockfighting enthusiasts.
Nationwide Alert at All Ports of Exit
Acting PNP chief, Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., has directed all police units to coordinate closely with immigration authorities. The order places every port of exit in the country under heightened monitoring to ensure Ang cannot leave the Philippines. Nartatez emphasized that tracker teams and intelligence units have been fully activated for the manhunt.
"The most logical option for him is to surrender because the PNP is determined to comply with the arrest warrant issued by the court," Nartatez stated. He added that if Ang is innocent, as he claims, he should be encouraged to face the accusations formally.
Warrant Issued for Ang and 17 Others
The intensified search follows an arrest warrant issued by a Laguna court on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The warrant names Ang and 17 other individuals for charges of kidnapping with homicide related to the disappearances of several sabungeros between 2021 and 2022.
Among the accused are 10 active policemen, one dismissed police officer, and seven civilians. The civilians include former security personnel and employees of cockfighting arenas allegedly linked to Ang's operations. The PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is leading the efforts to serve these warrants.
Nartatez commended the CIDG for its swift action, stating, "Time is indeed of the essence in this case, and our personnel were able to prove their dedication to their job." As of now, Charlie "Atong" Ang is the only suspect from the group who remains at large.
Legal Defense Calls Warrant "Premature"
In response to the arrest order, Ang's legal counsel, Attorney Gabriel Villareal, issued a statement criticizing the court's decision as premature. He argued that the warrant was based on incomplete and one-sided information from the Department of Justice (DOJ), without considering the counter-affidavits and evidence from the accused.
"Clearly, the court merely acted on the incomplete and one-sided information provided by the DOJ," Villareal said. He contended that the action violates Ang's constitutional rights and asserted they would exhaust all legal remedies to challenge the order.
"We trust that they will similarly give due respect to Mr. Ang and his co-accused," Villareal added, while pledging to continue engaging with the judicial process despite their objections.
The case continues to unfold as authorities maintain their vigilance at borders and pursue all leads to locate the alleged mastermind behind the missing sabungeros.
