Statement of DOJ on Pending Arrest of Businessman Atong Ang
DOJ – The Department of Justice reacted to the advice of lawyer Gabriel Villareal to businessman Atong Ang not to surrender.
The families of several cockfighting enthusiasts who allegedly went missing continue to call for justice over the supposed disappearance and death of their loved ones. Several names were tagged in the issue and some witnesses previously claimed that the bodies of the missing sabungeros were allegedy thrown in Taal Lake after suffering a devastating fate.
Complaints were filed against businessman Atong Ang and former actress Gretchen Barretto over the case of the missing sabungeros. Both of the well-known personalities denied their alleged involvement in the disappearance of the cockfighting enthusiasts.
Last December, the DOJ dismissed the complaints filed against Gretchen Barretto over the case of the missing sabungeros. Amid the accusations, Atong Ang filed complaints against the witnesses who testified against him and Barretto.
The Mandaluyong prosecutor junked the complaints filed by Atong Ang against the witnesses. Arrest warrants were recently issued against Ang and 17 other individuals implicated in the supposed disappearance of the cockfighting enthusiasts.
According to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the 17 other individuals tagged in the case of the missing sabungeros have been arrested already and they are under the custody of the authorities now. They are as follows:
- Rogelio Teodoso Borican Jr.
- Jezrel Lazarte Mahilum
- Mark Carlo Evangelista Zabala
- Rodelo Antipuesto Anging
- Emman Cayunda Falle
- Julios Tagalog Gumolon
- Ronquillo Pacot Anding
- Ryan Jay Eliab Orapa
- Aaron Ezrah Lagahit Cabillan
- Mark Anthony Aguilo Manrique
- Anderson Orozco Abary
- Michael Jactin Claveria
- Edmon Hernandez Munoz
- Farvy Opalla Dela Cruz
- Renan Lagrosa Fulgencio
- Alfredo Uy Andes
- Joey Natanaun Encarnacion
Only Atong Ang reportedly remains at large. Recently, Atty. Gabriel Villareal, the lawyer of Atong Ang, revealed that he advised the businessman not to surrender. He stressed that their camp has yet to exhaust all the legal remedies available for Ang.
“Bakit naman niya ipagsasapalaran ang sarili niya sa pagsuko? Marami pa siyang natitirang judicial remedies. Hindi naman dapat siyang tinutugis na parang isang kriminal. Wala pa naman tayong trial at declaration of guilt para kay Mr. Ang,” Villareal said.
The statement of the lawyer of Atong Ang did no sit well with the DOJ. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Justice department spokesperson Polo Martinez described the lawyer’s advice as allegedly “ill-advised” and “unethical”.
“[T]he suggestion not to follow the order by the court na lawfully issued by a competent court would be — I would say that suggestion is ill-advised and not only unethical but also potentially criminal,” Martinez said.
Furthermore, the DOJ Spokesperson also stressed that there are penalties for resisting the enforcement of arrest warrants as per the Revised Penal Code. Based on the report, Martinez stressed that the advice allegedly puts both Atong Ang and his lawyer in a disadvantageous position.
“That’s another crime that they could be charged with,” the DOJ Spox said.
Based on the report, because Atong Ang has yet to be arrested, the trial cannot start yet. Recently, Department of Interior and Local Government or DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced the reward money for the information that could lead to the arrest of Atong Ang.