The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday found prima facie evidence “with reasonable certainty of conviction” to indict trader Charlie “Atong” Ang for multiple counts of kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping with serious illegal detention in connection with the missing sabungeross.

The DOJ said its panel of prosecutors reached the finding “after a meticulous evaluation” of the consolidated complaints involving the missing sabungeros. A total of 26 Informations will be filed before the Regional Trial Courts of Lipa City, Sta. Cruz, Laguna, and San Pablo, Laguna.

Ang and several police officers were indicted for 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide. 

They were PLtCol. Ryan Jay Orapa, Rogelio Teodoso Borican Jr., Rodelo Anig-ig, Jezrel Mahilum, Mark Carlo Zabala, Ronquillo Anding, PSMS Joey Natanauan Encarnacion, PEMS Aaron Ezrah Lagahit Cabillan, PMSG Michael Jaictin Claveria, PSMS Mark Anthony Aguilo Manrique, PSMS Anderson Orozco Abary, PSSG Edmon Hernandez Muñoz, PSSG Alfredo Uy Andres, PMaj Philip Almedilla, PLt Henry Sasaluya, PCMS Arturo Dela Cruz, PSMS Farvy Opalla Dela Cruz, PSSG Alfredo Uy Andes, PCpl. Angel Joseph Martin, Jezrel Lazarte Mahilum, Emman Cayunda Falle, Julious Tagalog Gumulon, and PMSg Renan Lagrosa Fulgencio.

Ang, Orapa, Claveria, Anig-ig, Borican Jr., Andres, Almedilla, Encarnacion, Cabillan, and several unidentified police officers were also indicted for 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.

Actress Gretchen Barretto, earlier mentioned during the preliminary investigation, was not included in the list of those charged. The DOJ said other respondents were cleared “without prejudice” to the refiling of complaints should new evidence emerge.

The DOJ panel’s conclusions came after whistleblower Julie Patidongan accused Ang of masterminding the abductions and ordering the victims killed and buried in Taal Lake.

“With this development, the Department of Justice prays that the courts exact justice on those who should be held accountable,” the DOJ said.

On the other hand, Ang’s lawyer, Gabriel Villareal, sharply criticized the ruling, calling it “deeply flawed and grossly unfair to the accused.” He said they intend to file a motion for reconsideration to reverse the DOJ decision.

“The ruling, while likely given the bias apparent from DOJ conduct, suffers from clear factual gaps and substantial inconsistencies,” Villareal said. “Clearly the panel relied heavily on the flawed testimony of a lone witness whose integrity is irreversibly compromised.”

The lawyer accused Patidongan of “masquerading as a crusader” to protect himself and insisted that his client was being wrongfully implicated.

“It is unfortunate that the DOJ has been taken for a ride by a dubious witness,” he said, adding that they are confident they can “debunk all malicious and fabricated claims made by Patidongan,” whom he described as “the architect of this gruesome crime.”

Villareal also said the Patidongan brothers’ exclusion from the charges, despite what he claimed was evidence of their involvement, underscored the supposed flaws in the DOJ’s findings. 

He reiterated that the panel should have ordered the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to reinvestigate the case, given lingering questions about the fairness of the proceedings.