Philippine Gambling Tycoon Faces Murder Complaint Over 34 Missing Cockfight Workers

• Families seek justice over e-sabong disappearances, name Ang.
• Ang denies role, files countercharges against former employee.
• DOJ opens investigation amid mounting testimonies and pressure.

Families of 34 Philippine missing cockfighting enthusiasts, known as “sabungeros,” formally lodged criminal complaints on Friday with the country’s Justice Department (DOJ), accusing gambling magnate Charlie “Atong” Ang and others of multiple charges including murder and serious illegal detention. Ang denies the allegations.

The missing men, who were possibly targeted for being involved in bout-fixing, all disappeared from the capital Manila and its surrounding provinces in 2021 and 2022. Each was involved in e-sabong, the online streaming of cockfights for betting purposes.

The charges follow the testimony of one of six men to have been arrested for involvement in the disappearances, all of whom are former security staff at a cockfight arena in Manila.

Patidongan identified Ang as the mastermind of the crime and claimed the men were killed to set an example and prevent bout-rigging, which undermines the profitability of Ang’s e-sabong operations.

Extortion Allegation

Ang, who runs the e-sabong company Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc, has brought a criminal complaint of his own against Patidongan, claiming coercion, slander, conspiracy to commit attempted robbery, and incriminating innocent persons.

In the Philippines, legal proceedings for most crimes — including serious offenses like murder and illegal detention — can be initiated through private complaints filed by victims or their families. The complaint against Ang now compels the DOJ to open a preliminary investigation and determine whether there is probable cause to pursue criminal charges.

On Monday, Ang’s lawyer, Gabriel Villareal, reiterated that his client had nothing to do with the disappearances.

“We welcome the formal filing of cases against Mr. Ang as an opportunity for the businessman-sportsman to address the innuendoes being bandied about against him in the appropriate legal forum,” Villareal said.

Who is Atong Ang?

Ang is a controversial figure in the Philippines. In the 1990s, he had close ties to then-President Joseph Estrada, who was impeached for corruption and the embezzlement of public funds.

At the time, Ang ran “jueteng,” a grassroots numbers game, popular but illegal. Estrada hired him as a consultant to PAGCOR, the state gambling operator. His role was supposedly to help eliminate illegal gambling, but critics claimed he used his position to expand influence and monopolize gambling operations.

Ang was eventually charged with corruption alongside Estrada. He fled the country but was arrested in 2001 while gambling at the Paris Las Vegas casino. He was later extradited to the Philippines and served a prison sentence.