The lead counsel of businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang announced Friday that he will temporarily make himself unavailable for media interviews to avoid jeopardizing his client’s legal remedies, which his lawyers will be pursuing on his behalf.

However, Atty. Gabriel Villareal said his office will regularly issue press statements, when necessary, to provide updates on important developments in the case.

“So as not to jeopardize all legal remedies that we, Mr. Ang’s lawyers, would exhaust in the coming days for his benefit, I would rather limit my pronouncements to those contained in the media releases that we will be issuing regularly from here on,” Villareal told the DAILY TRIBUNE.

At the same time, Villareal announced that Ang’s defense team has filed an omnibus motion to quash the warrant of arrest issued by a Laguna trial court against the businessman in connection with the missing sabungero case.

He said they hope that the court will set the hearing on their motion next week.

Villareal maintained that the court’s issuance of the arrest order was done in haste and violated his client’s rights, as the Department of Justice transmitted incomplete information that was used by the court in determining probable cause.

Meanwhile, Villareal explained that his decision not to grant media interviews for now is due primarily to his hectic schedule.

Apart from being Ang’s lead counsel, Villareal also serves as his client’s spokesman.

“I’m too preoccupied with the drafting of important legal pleadings, which are due for submission to the courts,” he said.

However, the lawyer said the efforts extended by various media outfits and journalists covering the case to obtain their side of the story are very much appreciated by Ang and his camp.

“I will make myself available to our friends from the media as soon as we know that our client’s needs have been addressed. Our undivided time should be focused on protecting his interests at this point,” Villareal said.