A regional trial court in Laguna has issued arrest warrants against businessman Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang and 17 other accused in connection with the high-profile missing sabungeros cases.
The warrants were issued by Sta. Cruz, Laguna Regional Trial Court Branch 26 for kidnapping with homicide. The court declared the charges non-bailable.
Aside from the case filed in Sta. Cruz, authorities said Ang and his co-accused are also facing pending criminal cases before courts in Lipa City and San Pablo City.
The cases stemmed from complaints earlier filed by the Department of Justice, which charged Ang and nearly 20 others with kidnapping with homicide and serious illegal detention. Prosecutors said the charges were filed after finding prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction against the accused.
During a Palace press briefing, Philippine National Police acting chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police units are prepared to serve the arrest warrants.
Nartatez said teams have been dispatched to several locations where Ang is believed to be staying. He added that coordination is ongoing with the Sta. Cruz court that issued the warrants.
Police officials also disclosed that around 10 to 11 of Ang’s co-accused are currently under restrictive custody and are set to be surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
The PNP said operations will continue until all named respondents are accounted for and brought before the courts.
