Atong loses permits amid wide manhunt

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has revoked the firearm licenses of gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang as the authorities intensified the manhunt for him, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Thursday.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame on Thursday, CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said the revocation was approved by the PNP chief in support of ongoing efforts to find Ang.

“To further facilitate the manhunt, we have recommended to the Chief PNP the revocation of the firearm license of Mr. Atong Ang, which was approved,” Morico told reporters. 

“We have already communicated this to his lawyers and they were mandated to surrender the firearms to the Firearms and Explosives Office. There are six firearms under the name of Mr. Atong Ang,” he added. 

Morico also disclosed that the PNP has sought assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice against Ang, despite intelligence reports indicating that he remains in the country.

“Although our recent monitoring shows he is still here, we have requested through Interpol Manila the issuance of a red notice. If he manages to leave the country through the back door or enters another Interpol member country, he will be arrested,” Morico said.

The PNP is also coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration to issue a hold departure order against Ang and is set to recommend his inclusion in the national list of most wanted persons, which carries a monetary reward.

Ang is the lone suspect still at large in the missing sabungeros case after his 17 co-accused were arrested and taken into custody by the CIDG on Wednesday. The cockfight enthusiasts numbering some 100 were believed ordered killed by Ang. 

During the press briefing, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Ang is now considered the country’s No. 1 Most Wanted Person.

“He is very rich. He has a lot of money so he can buy an island or hide in a mountain. But it is very difficult to fight the Philippine government. We will find him,” Remulla said.

Despite the aggressive pursuit, Remulla stressed that law enforcement operations will remain within legal bounds.

Once arrested, Ang will be brought to Camp Crame before being transferred to a detention facility under the jurisdiction of the court that issued the warrants against him.

Off limits on Ang, generals warned

Remulla said the Department of  the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had issued warnings to four retired police generals to distance themselves from Ang or face charges of harboring a fugitive. 

Remulla also said the DILG has put up a P10-million reward, sourced from the agency’s “intelligence fund,” for any information that would lead to Ang’s arrest.

He added that a “red notice” has been sent out by Interpol for police authorities in member countries to arrest Ang once he lands in their jurisdiction.