The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Monday, Dec. 22, that criminal cases have been filed in court against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and his co-accused in connection with the disappearance of “sabungeros,” or cockfight enthusiasts.
DOJ spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez said 26 cases — 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide and 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention — were lodged on Dec. 19 before the Regional Trial Vourts (RTCs) in Lipa City in Batangas, and in Sta. Cruz and San Pablo City in Laguna.
Ang faces these charges alongside 21 co-accused in the kidnapping with homicide cases.
It remains unclear whether the cases will be consolidated into a single trial court or transferred to Manila.
Martinez said that “under the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, the courts wherein the Informations are filed will issue the corresponding warrants of arrest upon its determination of the existence of probable cause based on the evidence submitted and the resolution by the panel of prosecutors.”
Ang’s co-accused in the cases of kidnapping with homicide were Police Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa, Rogelio Tedoso Borican Jr., Rodelo Anig-ig, Mark Carlo Zabala, Ronquillo Anding, Police Senior Master Sergeant (PSMS) Joey Natanauan Encarnacion, Police Executive Master Sergeant (PEMS) Aaron Ezrah Lagahit Cabillan, Police Master Sergeant (PMSG) Michael Jaictin Claveria, PSMS Mark Anthony Aguilo Manrique, PSMS Anderson Orozco Abary, Police Staff Sergeant (PSSG) Edmon Hernandez Munoz, PSSG Alfredo Uy Andres, Police Maj. Philip Almedilla, Police Lt. Henry Sasaluya, Police Chief Master Sergeant (PCMS) Arturo Dela Cruz, PSMS Farvy Opalla Dela Cruz, Police Cpl. Angel Joseph Martin, Jezrel Lazarte Mahilum, Emman Cauda Falle, Julious Tagalog Gumulon, and PMSG Renan Lagrosa Fulgencio.
Also charged with Ang in the cases of kidnapping with serious illegal detention were Oraga, Claveria, Anig-ig, Borican, Almedilla, Encarnacion, and Cabillan.
The charges were filed after a panel of prosecutors, which conducted the preliminary investigation, issued a resolution that prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction were found to charge Ang and his co-respondents.
On the other hand, the panel dismissed the complaints against a number of respondents including actress Gretchen Barretto and whistleblower Julie Aguilar Patidongan and his brother Ellakim Tadulan Patidongan.
The resolution stated that all the charges were dismissed against the Patidongan brothers since they have been admitted as state witnesses. (Jeffrey Damicog)
