MANILA — Fugitive businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang has filed a pleading before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on March 23, 2026, seeking to block his possible inclusion as an accused in the Manila case involving the disappearance of six cockfight enthusiasts, or “sabungeros,” in 2022.

Ang, represented by his lawyer Atty. Gabriel Villareal, argued that his client had no involvement in the Manila incident and should not be added as a respondent in the ongoing preliminary investigation. “Ang prayer po namin is that wala ho kinalaman si Mr. Ang dito sa Manila incident,” Villareal said, stressing that the accusations were based on a recantation affidavit by Julie Patidongan, a witness whose credibility has been questioned.

The DOJ had earlier referred Ang’s possible inclusion in the Manila case after three regional trial courts in Laguna and Batangas issued warrants for his arrest on charges of kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping with serious illegal detention in connection with other missing sabungeros cases. Despite these warrants, Ang has not surrendered and remains at large.

Villareal criticized what he described as a sudden shift in the DOJ’s stance, noting that the department previously prosecuted Patidongan but now appeared to be relying on his testimony to implicate Ang. “Bakit ngayon biglang parang nagpalit ang isip ng DOJ na sila ang nag pro-prosecute kay Julie Patidongan, ngayon parang ginagawa nilang alaga si Julie Patidongan,” he said.

The case of the missing sabungeros has drawn national attention since 2022, when several cockfight enthusiasts vanished under mysterious circumstances linked to the Manila Arena. Families of the victims have long demanded accountability, while authorities continue to pursue leads in multiple provinces.

Ang’s camp insists that the allegations are politically motivated and unsupported by credible evidence. His lawyer reiterated that the plea was filed to prevent unjust inclusion in the Manila case, while acknowledging that Ang is already facing separate charges in other jurisdictions.

The DOJ has yet to issue a final ruling on Ang’s plea, but officials confirmed that the investigation remains active. The outcome will determine whether Ang will formally face charges in the Manila Regional Trial Court alongside other respondents already implicated in the disappearance of the sabungeros.

This latest development underscores the complexity of the high-profile case, which continues to test the country’s justice system and fuel public demand for accountability in the unresolved disappearances.