January 17, 2026 – Manila, Philippines. Whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan has claimed that gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang may have already left the country amid multiple arrest warrants issued against him in connection with the disappearance of cockfighting enthusiasts, or sabungeros.

Patidongan, who earlier testified against Ang, told radio interviews that the businessman could have fled as early as December 2025. “He may be out of the country already,” Patidongan said, adding that Ang’s operations are international in scope and that he may have used his network to escape abroad.

The Sta. Cruz, Laguna Regional Trial Court and the Lipa City, Batangas RTC recently issued arrest warrants against Ang and more than 20 co-accused for kidnapping with homicide, a non-bailable offense under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code. 

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has released wanted posters of Ang, who is accused of masterminding the abductions of dozens of cockfighting enthusiasts dating back to 2021 and 2022.

Authorities have intensified manhunts in Laguna and Batangas, but Ang has so far evaded arrest. The Department of Justice has yet to confirm his whereabouts, though whistleblower claims have heightened public pressure for swift action.

The disappearance of sabungeros has long been a national controversy, with families staging protests and demanding accountability. The case resurfaced after courts escalated proceedings earlier this month, raising the possibility of extradition efforts if Ang is confirmed to have fled overseas. 

The Cost of Delay Is Escape

The suspicion that Charlie Ang may have fled exposes a familiar failure. Arrest warrants arrive, manhunts follow, but only after years of silence and slow action. In cases involving power and money, time is never neutral. Delay becomes opportunity.

Families of missing sabungeros have waited since 2021. Courts escalated only recently. If a suspect slips beyond borders, accountability weakens and trust collapses. Justice delayed does not stay still. It leaves.

If flight is confirmed, the question is no longer where the suspect went, but why the system moved too slowly to stop him. Who really paid for the delay?

Image from Business Mirror