JANUARY 18, 2026 — What happens when a lawyer’s advice seems to go against the very rule of law he’s sworn to uphold? That’s the burning question now surrounding attorney Gabriel Villareal, counsel of Charlie “Atong” Ang, who faces multiple warrants of arrest for kidnapping with homicide and serious illegal detention linked to the ‘missing sabungeros’.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla was adamant. 

“We will handle that. We will file a manifestation with the Supreme Court … against the lawyer, Gabby Villareal,” he declared on dzRH’s “Executive Session.” 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) quickly backed him up, branding Villareal’s advice as “unethical” and “potentially criminal.” 

DOJ spokesman Raphael Niccolo Martinez stressed, “A warrant of arrest lawfully issued by a competent court should be strictly adhered to. The suggestion that one resist and disobey the lawful orders of a court is not only ill-advised but unethical and potentially criminal.”

Villareal, however, stood firm in his interview with dzMM, saying he advised Ang not to surrender until “all available legal remedies are exhausted.” 

But when does “exhausting remedies” become outright defiance of the law?

This isn’t just about one lawyer and one fugitive. It’s about the credibility of our justice system. Ang has already been tagged by the Department of the Interior and Local Government as “armed and dangerous” and “most wanted.” A P10-million bounty hangs over his head, yet he remains elusive. 

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) admits the chase is complicated, even hinting that some police officers may be shielding him. 

NBI spokesman Palmer Mallari warned, “We are telling them that the information should be shared … careful in giving any small updates that could be a reason to give him two steps ahead.”

Think about that: if law enforcers themselves can’t be trusted, what chance does the public have at justice? And if lawyers openly advise clients to dodge arrest, what message does that send to ordinary Filipinos who are told to obey the law no matter what?

The NBI insists Ang is likely still in the country, possibly moving between Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Authorities have scoured his properties in Pasig, Mandaluyong, Laguna, and Batangas — but sill no trace. 

The hunt continues, but the bigger issue remains: should Villareal face sanctions for his advice?

Playing dodgeball with justice

This whole mess makes us face some uncomfortable questions. In the Philippines, we all know how “legal strategy” can sometimes look a lot like stalling or dodging. 

So where’s the line? How far should a lawyer go to protect his client? Is Villareal just doing his job, or is he crossing into dangerous territory that chips away at the very idea of justice?

At the end of the day, this isn’t just about Atong Ang hiding from authorities. It’s about whether the law really applies to everyone, or only to those without money and influence. If someone like Ang can slip through the cracks with the help of legal loopholes, what does that say about accountability in this country?

We’re not just chasing one fugitive here. We’re chasing the credibility of our justice system itself. And if the law bends too easily for the powerful, then what’s left for the rest of us?

(Image: Philippine Information Agency)