MANILA, Philippines, February 14, 2026 — Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have moved in on properties linked to gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang as part of the ongoing manhunt connected to the disappearance of several cockfighting enthusiasts, known locally as sabungeros.

On February 12, NBI operatives from the Organized and Transnational Crime Division entered an exclusive subdivision in Makati City armed with a warrant of arrest. The operation was coordinated with barangay officials and the homeowners’ association before agents proceeded to the property. 

Inside, personnel recorded the presence of the tracker team, while Ang’s lawyers conferred with investigators. Despite the search, Ang was not found at the location.

According to NBI spokesperson Palmer Mallari, agents also visited two properties in Dasmariñas Village reportedly owned by Ang’s children, following intelligence that the businessman may still be communicating with them. However, the operation yielded no arrest.

Ang is facing multiple charges, including kidnapping with homicide and serious illegal detention, filed before courts in Sta. Cruz, Laguna; Lipa, Batangas; and San Pablo, Laguna. These cases stem from the disappearance of more than 30 sabungeros in 2022, a controversy that has drawn national attention and prompted calls for accountability in the gaming industry. 

The Department of Justice has confirmed that Ang remains in the Philippines, while the Department of the Interior and Local Government has raised the reward for his capture to ₱20 million.

The NBI has vowed to intensify its search operations, stressing that Ang must face the charges filed against him. “We are exhausting all leads to ensure that justice is served for the families of the missing sabungeros,” Mallari said.

The case continues to highlight the challenges of law enforcement in tracking high-profile fugitives and underscores the gravity of the unresolved disappearances. With Ang still at large, authorities remain under pressure to deliver results in one of the country’s most closely watched criminal investigations.