PNP arrests Atong Ang co-accused in missing sabungeros case in Batangas

Only businessman Charlie "Atong" Ang is still at large after all of his co-accused in the missing sabungeros cases were arrested by the authorities.

According to a "State of the Nation" report by Darlene Cay on Friday, the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) had nabbed all his co-accused under the arrest warrant issued by the Lipa, Batangas Regional Trial Court Branch 13 as of Friday night.

The most recent arrest involved a former police officer who had been dismissed.

The PNP also said that Ang's co-accused under the warrant issued by Sta. Cruz, Laguna Regional Trial Court Branch 26 are now in their custody.

Police had earlier failed to serve Ang’s arrest warrant at his known residences and properties in Pasig City, Mandaluyong, Laguna, and Batangas.

Authorities said that there was no information that Ang left the country.

A reward of P10 million has been put up for any information that will lead to the arrest of Ang, whose lawyer had advised him not to surrender.

“[I] have yet to see the order of the Lipa Court… [I] need to see [the] basis for issuing [the] warrant and the court’s disposition of our motion to defer issuance of the warrant,” said Ang’s lawyer, Atty. Gabriel Villareal.

Department of Justice spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez called out Villareal's advice.

“A warrant of arrest lawfully issued by a competent court should be strictly adhered to. The suggestion that one resist and disobey the lawful orders of a court is not only ill-advised but also unethical and potentially criminal. And it opens up his client to further criminal liability,” Martinez said. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News