Published on: April 17, 2026, 05:29h.
Updated on: April 17, 2026, 05:29h.
- Interpol releases red notice as Atong Ang evades arrest
- Multiple sabungeros missing amid claims of match-fixing and homicide
- Taal Lake searches reveal skeletal remains, identities not confirmed
Interpol has put out a red notice for Charlie “Atong” Ang, a prominent figure in the Philippine gambling scene, who is the key suspect in the disappearance of 34 sabungeros, individuals closely linked to the local cockfighting culture.
Ang has become a fugitive after multiple non-bailable warrants were issued against him by Philippine courts in January. Among the charges are kidnapping with homicide and serious illegal detention.
All of the men who have gone missing disappeared from Manila and surrounding provinces between 2021 and 2022; they were gamefowl handlers, aides, helpers, or drivers involved in the e-sabong industry, which broadcasts cockfighting events online for betting. Investigators allege the victims were implicated in match-fixing schemes that compromised betting syndicates.
Ang operates the e-sabong platform Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc. His former head of security, Julie “Dondon” Patogan, arrested in relation to the missing individuals, informed investigators that the sabungeros were allegedly killed on Ang’s orders to serve as a warning and deter match-fixing practices that could endanger profits.
On the Run
Ang has refuted these accusations. Despite speculation regarding a potential escape to Cambodia, officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP) indicated this week that he might still be in the Philippines.
Last seen in the Calabarzon region about two weeks ago, authorities believe he has been changing locations frequently to avoid being captured, with detectives mentioning they “missed him by a day.”
Patogan has alleged that over 100 victims were disposed of in Lake Taal, a large volcanic lake located in Batangas province. While searches have revealed human skeletal remains, definitive identification linking them to the missing sabungeros has yet to be made.
Cockfighting has deep cultural roots in the Philippines, with a tradition spanning centuries. Matches often feature birds fighting until death, using hooked razors fastened to their talons, and many are injected with steroids to enhance their fighting capabilities.
The e-sabong industry saw a significant surge in popularity during the pandemic when many live events were restricted due to health protocols. The government attempted to regulate and tax the booming market, but public outcry regarding the missing men led to a ban on the sport.
Controversial History
Prior to the current investigation, Ang was already a polarizing figure in the Philippines. In the late 1990s, he was closely associated with then-President Joseph Estrada, who was later impeached for corruption and financial misconduct.
At that time, Ang had connections to jueteng, an illegal but widely played numbers game. Nevertheless, Estrada appointed him as a consultant to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), ostensibly to combat illegal gambling, a move criticized for allowing Ang to widen his influence over the sector.
In October 2000, Estrada was accused of accepting over ₱400 million (around US$7 million) in jueteng-related bribes and other illicit funds. Ang was identified as the intermediary who managed the collection and distribution of protection money.
He subsequently faced charges alongside Estrada and fled the country, but was apprehended in 2001 while gambling at Paris Las Vegas. He was then extradited back to the Philippines, where he served his prison term.