Only Atong Ang at-large; 17 accused in missing sabungero case arrested —CIDG

Seventeen of the 18 individuals facing arrest warrants in connection with the missing sabungeros case are now under police custody, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Wednesday.

CIDG spokesperson Police Major Helen dela Cruz said only businessman Charlie "Atong" Ang is at-large.

"Yes po, Mr. Atong Ang na lang ang kasalukuyang under manhunt operation," she said.

In a press conference earlier in the day, CIDG chief Police Major General Robert Alexander Morico II said the accused in custody are nine police officers and six civilians.

Following the release of arrest warrants, Morico said the six accused who are civilians were arrested on Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, the nine cops are already under CIDG’s restrictive custody even before the release of the arrest warrants.

“We have received two warrants of arrest sa kaso ni Atong Ang. The warrant to arrest consists of five counts for kidnapping with domicile and another six counts na warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention,” Morico said.

“All in all, there are 18 accused sa warrant of arrest. And out of this number, 10 are police officers. One is a former police officer. Dismissed na kasi 'yung isa. And eight ang sibilyan, including Mr. Atong,” he added.

Authorities are still searching for Ang, a police officer, and a civilian. An operation for Ang is ongoing, according to Morico.

“I ask Mr. Atong Ang to peacefully surrender na lang. We have several ongoing ngayon ng manhunt. There are several properties niya po in Metro Manila as well as in Region 4A na ongoing 'yung pag-ano ng tauhan namin,” he said.

A regional trial court in Sta. Cruz, Laguna has issued a warrant of arrest against Ang and 17 other individuals in connection with the missing sabungero case.

According to a Balitanghali report, Ang’s lawyer, Gabriel Villareal, requested to be given some time to review the accusations against his client. —AOL, GMA Integrated News