PNP team tracking Ang in Cambodia

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday confirmed that Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel have been sent to Cambodia to help verify reports that fugitive businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang may be hiding there.

Remulla said the lead came from whistleblower Julie Patidongan, a former associate of Ang, and authorities are leaving no stone unturned.

“According to Julie Patidongan, it’s a suspicion, and you can’t rule out anything. That’s why we’re checking everywhere, looking at all possible entry points. Our police are already there, coordinating with counterparts in Cambodia to see if he’s really there,” Remulla told a TV news program.

Ang is currently listed as the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) most wanted in connection with the disappearance of more than 30 sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts). Authorities have placed a P10-million bounty on his arrest.

The search has so far yielded no results. Police teams have already scoured 18 locations over the past two weeks, but Ang remains elusive.

Remulla also speculated on the businessman’s resources, noting that Ang’s wealth could help him evade capture.

“I believe Atong has at least P10 billion in cash. Based on my estimates, he earned about P1 billion a day over three years. Even if he spent a lot, having that much cash lets him buy his way in and out of places. So we’re examining every detail, checking if he’s in Cambodia, Thailand, or anywhere else in Southeast Asia,” Remulla said.

On Monday, Col. John Guiagui, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR), confirmed that authorities are already acting on reports that Ang may have fled the country.

“But until we have verified sightings, we will continue searching for him here in the Philippines,” Guiagui said. “As long as he’s still in the country, we are 100 percent focused on finding him.”

Authorities are still investigating three more locations in Metro Manila, though Guiagui declined to give details due to ongoing operations.

“We’ve made efforts in Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon. Any information that comes in, we validate,” he said.

Earlier, Remulla also instructed police officers to use body cameras during the search to prevent bribery or other attempts to let Ang escape.