The Department of Justice has filed formal criminal charges against businessman Charlie Atong Ang and 21 co accused over the disappearance of sabungeros, with prosecutors moving to court on counts that include kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said the Informations against Ang were formally filed on Friday, 19 December 2025. Ang and his co accused face 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide and 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
“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,” Martinez said.
The cases were filed in three Regional Trial Courts in Lipa City, Santa Cruz, and San Pablo.
Earlier this month, the DOJ announced that a panel of prosecutors found prima facie evidence with a reasonable certainty of conviction to indict Ang and the other respondents. The ruling cited sworn confessions from whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan and his brother Ellakim, which prosecutors said “firmly established” that Ang “exercised command responsibility and active inducement over the abduction operations.”
Prosecutors also noted that records showed all orders to apprehend “cheating” sabungeros came from Ang.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the arrest warrant for Ang could be issued “anytime now.”
The filings mark a decisive escalation in one of the country’s most closely watched criminal cases, placing Ang and his alleged network squarely before the courts as judges move to determine probable cause and the issuance of arrest warrants.
