DOJ eyes hold departure order for Atong Ang

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is eyeing a hold departure order (HDO) to prevent businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang from leaving the country amid multiple criminal charges over the disappearance of several sabungeros.

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon said Thursday, “Certainly, once the cases have been filed, probably the prosecutors in charge or handling the cases may already move for the issuance of an HDO.”

On 9 December, a resolution found evidence with “reasonable certainty of conviction” to charge Ang and 21 others for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of cockfight enthusiasts. Ang will face 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide and 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.

The cases have yet to be filed in court due to the volume of criminal charge sheets that must be lodged before regional trial courts (RTCs) in Batangas, Laguna, and Parañaque City. Fadullon said the DOJ will ask the Office of the Court Administrator to consolidate the cases to avoid logistical difficulties.

Earlier, Atty. Gabriel Villareal, Ang’s lawyer, said he would file a motion for reconsideration before the DOJ to seek reversal of the ruling of the panel of prosecutors.

On this, Fadullon said, “We are not waiting for their motion for reconsideration. They have 15 days within which to file their motion for reconsideration but, then again, we are not precluded from filing the criminal charge sheets before the courts.”

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that Ang has not left the country. “No recent recorded travel of Ang,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said.

Ang’s co-accused in the kidnapping with homicide case include Police Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orapa, Rogelio Tedoso Borican Jr., Rodelo Anig-ig, 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 Munoz, PSSG Alfredo Uy Andres, Police Maj. Philip Almedilla, Police Lt. Henry Sasaluya, PCMS Arturo Dela Cruz, PSMS Farvy Opalla Dela Cruz, Police Cpl. Angel Joseph Martin, Jezrel Lazarte Mahilum, Emman Cauda Falle, Julious Tagalog Gumulon, and PMSG Renan Lagrosa Fulgencio.

Oraga, Claveria, Anig-ig, Borican, Almedilla, Encarnacion, and Cabillan were also charged with Ang in the cases of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.