Second arrest order out for Ang

A second arrest warrant has been issued by a Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Lipa City, Batangas, for 21 individuals, including gamecock magnate Charlie “Atong” Ang who now faces his second warrant in connection with kidnapping with homicide cases linked to missing “sabungeros,” a non-bailable offense under Philippine law.

In an order dated 15 January 2026, Presiding Judge Pamela Torres Chavez-Izon of RTC Branch 13 directed law enforcement authorities to arrest the accused, who are charged under Criminal Cases 12-1402-2025 to 12-1407-2025.

Ang is named as the primary accused among the 21 individuals listed on the document.

His co-accused include Ryan Jay Eliab Orapa, Alfredo Uy Andes, Henry Samar Sasaluya, Farvy Opalla de la Cruz, among others, with addresses spanning Mandaluyong, Pasig, and Muntinlupa in the National Capital Region.

The court has declared the charges non-bailable under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 7659.

The first arrest warrant was issued earlier, on 13 January 2026, by Regional Trial Court Branch 26 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

It named Ang as the primary accused, along with 17 others (18 in some accounts), under similar charges, including kidnapping with homicide, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention in connection with the missing sabungeros, or cockfight enthusiasts, case.

No surrender

The lawyer for Ang said Friday he had advised his client not to surrender until all available legal remedies had been exhausted.

The lawyer, Gabriel Villareal, said in a radio interview that Ang should not be considered a criminal as he has not undergone a trial or made a declaration of guilt.

“Why would he risk himself by surrendering? He still has many judicial remedies available. He shouldn’t be pursued as if he were a criminal. After all, we haven’t had a trial or a declaration of guilt for Mr. Ang yet,” Villareal said.

P10-M reward

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday offered a P10-million reward for information leading to Ang’s arrest.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Ang is considered “armed and dangerous,” citing intelligence reports that he was moving with at least 20 bodyguards despite the Philippine National Police canceling his firearm licenses.

Villareal said the “armed and dangerous” tag on Ang was baseless and this statement from the government was risky and concerning.

The lawyer said he filed an omnibus motion for the Sta. Cruz Regional Trial Court to reconsider its issuance of warrants of arrest against Ang and 17 others.

Villareal said the warrants could be quashed due to alleged procedural lapses during the preliminary investigation.

No media exposure for now

Villareal said his office will 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 the Laguna trial court.

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

Villareal maintained the court’s issuance of an arrest order was made in haste and violated his client’s rights because the Department of Justice transmitted incomplete information that the court used in its determination of probable cause.

Villareal explained that his decision not to do media interviews for now was 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.