DIVERSIONS?

The sudden escalation of the hunt for businessman and gambler Charlie “Atong” Ang in relation to the case of the “missing sabungeros” may have been a welcome move for the families of the cockfighting enthusiasts who still seek closure three years after they disappeared.

But for political insiders and analysts, the sudden interest of authorities in hunting down Ang may have been a welcome tactic from the continuing government crisis regarding the billion-peso flood-control scandal.

With the Marcos administration’s reputation in tatters, growing doubts as to whether the government-commissioned Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) can still perform its mandate, and the pointed lack of interest among authorities in pursuing the “Cabral files,” the recent issuance of a Laguna court of a warrant of arrest against Ang could just as well be godsent to evade accountability for the wanton robbery of public funds.

Warrant of arrest

The sudden escalation of the manhunt for Ang came mere days after a Santa Cruz, Laguna court issued a warrant of arrest to the businessman in connection with the missing sabungeros case.

The warrant, issued by Santa Cruz, Laguna Regional Trial Court Branch 26 Judge Mary Jean Cajandra Ong last January 13, named Ang (real name Charlie Tiu Hay Ang), Rogelio Borican Jr., Jezrel Mahilum, Mark Zabala, Rodelo Anig-ig, Emman Falle, Jilios Gumolon, Ronquillo Anding, Ryan Orapa, Aaron Cabillan, Mark Manrique, Anderson Abary, Michael Claveria, Edmon Muñoz, Farvy Dela Cruz, Renan Fulgenio, Alfredo Andes and Joey Encarnacion for kidnapping with homicide with no bail recommended.

While the issuance of a warrant of arrest against Ang had already been anticipated in the months following the discovery of human remains at the Taal Lake last year – which may or may not belong to the missing sabungeros – what is surprising is the speed of how authorities responded with the arrest order.

In a press briefing in Malacañang last January 14, Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said the arrest warrant would be served at Ang’s identified locations.

He added that around 10 to 11 police personnel who are also subjects of an arrest warrant are already under restrictive custody.

Asked if the PNP anticipates any difficulty in serving the warrant, Nartatez said established procedures will be followed.

Meanwhile, Department of Justice (DOJ) officials said a hold departure order (HDO) against Ang will be issued shortly.

"An ILBO (Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order) was previously issued, which will notify authorities of any attempt by any of the accused to exit the country,” DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said in a statement.

Authorities said that Ang is still reportedly in the country, despite police failing to find him in several operations conducted in properties connected to the businessman.

These include his cockfighting farm in Siniloan, Laguna (which, incidentally, was also the subject of charges of environmental destruction and displacement of small farmers).

‘Bakit ang bilis?’

The speed with which DOJ officials had acted on the arrest order against Ang sharply contrasted with the slow pace of the investigation against those responsible for stealing billions of pesos in substandard (and non-existent) flood-control projects, political analysts have pointed out.

The move comes as officials continue to cast doubt and aspersions on the files allegedly belonging to the late Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral that were recently exposed by Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste.

It was also revealing that instead of pursuing the “Cabral files,” the Office of the Ombudsman led by former Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla decided to probe Leviste instead on the alleged irregularities in his renewable-energy projects.

Some insiders have even raised speculations that the decision of the Laguna court to issue a warrant of arrest against a high-profile personality like Atong Ang had been ordered by somebody higher-up in the ranks of the Judiciary department to divert public attention from the flood-control issue.

Losing faith

To recall, a Pulse Asia survey has revealed waning public trust and confidence in the government's ability (or, we should say, inclination) to prosecute the flood-control issue.

That survey, conducted between December 12 to 15, 2025, revealed that only 59 percent of Filipinos still believed government officials involved in the scandal would be punished, compared with 71 percent last September.

In Metro Manila, the proportion of adults who have expressed doubts that public officials involved will be punished increased by 14 percent.

Meanwhile, “near to small majorities do not trust the President (48 percent) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (59 percent) to deal with the matter while big pluralities to bare majorities cannot say if they trust or distrust the House of Representatives (41 percent), the Office of the Ombudsman (49 percent), and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (51 percent)," Pulse Asia added in its report.

The survey also noted that “the level of trust in the Office of the Ombudsman drops (-11 percentage points) while distrust and indecision toward its trustworthiness become more marked (both a +6 percentage points). As regards the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the level of distrust in the investigative body goes up (+10 percentage points).”

(With reports from the Philippine News Agency)

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