MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Tuesday that it will file 26 criminal cases against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and several police officers for alleged kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping with serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of multiple cockfighting enthusiasts, saying prosecutors found prima facie evidence that creates a reasonable certainty of conviction.
In a statement, the DOJ said a panel of prosecutors reached the decision after a meticulous evaluation of consolidated complaints stemming from several incidents involving missing “sabungeros.”
Prosecutors will file the 26 Informations before the Regional Trial Courts of Lipa City in Batangas and Sta. Cruz and San Pablo in Laguna.
The DOJ reported that Ang and multiple police officers face indictment for 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide.
The agency identified the accused in these cases as:
Ang, Police Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Jay Orapa, Rogelio Teodoso Borican Jr., Rodelo Anig-ig, Jezrel Mahilum, Mark Carlo Zabala, Ronquillo Anding, Police Senior Master Sergeant Joey Natanauan Encarnacion, Police Executive Master Sergeant Aaron Ezrah Lagahit Cabillan, Police Master Sergeant Michael Jaictin Claveria, Police Senior Master Sergeant Mark Anthony Aguilo Manrique, Police Senior Master Sergeant Anderson Orozco Abary, Police Staff Sergeant Edmon Hernandez Muñoz, Police Staff Sergeant Alfredo Uy Andres, Police Major Philip Almedilla, Police Lieutenant Henry Sasaluya, Police Chief Master Sergeant Arturo Dela Cruz, Police Senior Master Sergeant Farvy Opalla Dela Cruz, Police Staff Sergeant Alfredo Uy Andes, Police Corporal Angel Joseph Martin, Jezrel Lazarte Mahilum, Emman Cayunda Falle, Julious Tagalog Gumulon and Police Master Sergeant Renan Lagrosa Fulgencio.
The DOJ said Ang, Orapa, Claveria, Anig-ig, Borican Jr., Andres, Almedilla, Encarnacion, Cabillan and several unidentified police personnel also face 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
The department clarified that actress Gretchen Barretto, whose name surfaced during the preliminary investigation, is not included in the Informations.
Other respondents were cleared, the DOJ said, without prejudice to the possible refiling of complaints should investigators obtain new evidence.
According to the DOJ panel, its conclusions followed the sworn statements and testimony of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, who alleged that Ang masterminded the abductions and ordered the victims killed and buried in Taal Lake.
The DOJ said it is now asking the courts to exact justice on those it believes should be held accountable.
Ang’s lawyer, Gabriel Villareal, said the defense will challenge the DOJ resolution and will file a motion for reconsideration to seek its reversal. He described the ruling as deeply flawed and grossly unfair and claimed it contains factual gaps and significant inconsistencies.
Villareal asserted that the DOJ panel placed undue reliance on a lone witness — Patidongan — whose credibility he claimed is irreversibly compromised. He alleged that Patidongan is protecting himself, posing as a crusader, and wrongfully implicating Ang.
He further claimed that Patidongan is the architect of the crime and maintained that the defense can debunk what it characterizes as malicious and fabricated allegations.
Villareal also cited the exclusion of the Patidongan brothers from the list of accused as evidence, in his view, of defects in the DOJ’s findings, saying the defense earlier submitted what it considered proof of their involvement.
He added that the DOJ panel should have instructed the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to reinvestigate the case, citing unresolved concerns regarding the fairness of the proceedings.
