Third Arrest Warrant Issued for Atong Ang

A court in San Pablo City, Laguna, has issued a third arrest warrant against businessman Charlie Atong Ang, escalating the manhunt for the gaming tycoon accused of masterminding the disappearance of dozens of cockfighting enthusiasts known as sabungeros. The warrant, dated February 6, targets Ang and five co-accused for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, nonbailable offenses linked to the abductions that occurred between April 2021 and January 2022.

The latest order from Regional Trial Court Branch 29 adds to two prior warrants issued earlier this month. On January 13, Sta. Cruz Regional Trial Court Branch 26 in Laguna ordered Ang's arrest for similar charges, followed by a warrant from Lipa City Regional Trial Court Branch 13 in Batangas on January 15. Authorities have filed 26 criminal charge sheets against Ang, including 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide and 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention. These stem from complaints by families of at least 34 missing sabungeros, though a whistleblower has claimed the number could exceed 100.

Ang, who owns the Lucky 8 Star Quest cockfighting arenas where many of the victims were last seen, has remained at...