news about the Missing sbungeros

 As of late December 2025, the case of the 34 missing sabungeros (which began in 2021) has seen significant and controversial developments.¹ The investigation, which lay dormant for some time, was revived this year following new witness testimonies and the recovery of physical remains.

Here are the key updates:

1. Indictment of Atong Ang and 15 Police Officers

On December 9, 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended the filing of massive criminal charges against several high-profile individuals:²

• Charlie "Atong" Ang: The gaming tycoon has been indicted for 10 counts of kidnapping with homicide and 16 counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.³

• Police Officers: At least 15 police officers and several security guards from the Manila Arena were also included in the indictment.⁴

• Gretchen Barretto: The DOJ dropped the complaint against the former actress, citing a lack of sufficient evidence to prove her involvement or knowledge of the abductions.⁵

2. Latest Tensions: "Armed and Dangerous"

As of December 19, 2025, a heated public exchange has broken out between Atong Ang’s legal team and the government:

• DILG Statement: Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla recently described Ang as "armed and dangerous," suggesting that the approach for his arrest would be "different."⁶

• Defense Pushback: Ang’s lawyer, Atty.⁷ Gabriel Villareal, slammed these remarks as "irresponsible" and "reckless," arguing they could incite a "shoot-to-kill" scenario.⁸ He maintains that Ang is still in the Philippines and has been cooperating with the law.

• Motion for Reconsideration: On December 17, 2025, Ang's camp filed a motion to reverse the DOJ's indictment, claiming the resolution is inconsistent with the evidence.⁹

3. The Taal Lake Discoveries

A major breakthrough occurred late this year following revelations from a whistleblower (alias "Totoy"):

• Skeletal Remains: Between November and December 2025, authorities recovered over 50 pieces of human bones, including skulls, from the depths of Taal Lake in Batangas.¹⁰

• The Allegation: The whistleblower claimed that missing cockfighters were rounded up, strangled with tie wires, and dumped in the lake.¹¹

• DNA Testing: As of right now, the DOJ and NBI are conducting DNA matching to confirm if these remains belong to the 34 missing enthusiasts.¹²

4. Why the Trial hasn't "Started" Yet

The DOJ explained on December 16, 2025, that there is a slight delay in the formal filing of the "criminal information" in court.¹³ This is due to an extensive review process to ensure the wording of the charges is air-tight. They want to avoid a "quashable" case—where a small technical error could allow the defense to have the case dismissed immediately.¹⁴

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Summary of Current Status

Status	Details
Main Suspects	Atong Ang and 15+ Police Officers (Indicted).
Current Stage	DOJ finalising court filings; Search for more remains in Taal Lake.
Location of Suspects	Atong Ang is confirmed to be in the PH; Warrants are expected soon once the review is finished.
Key Witnesses	Julie "Dondon" Patidongan and alias "Totoy" (admitted to Witness Protection).