GOVERNMENT officials said they believed that business tycoon-turned-fugitive Charlie “Atong” Ang is still in the Philippines, but acknowledged Thursday that they received intelligence reports that he may have already escaped to Cambodia through backdoor routes.
“We are confident he is still here in the country, but there is information that he may be in Cambodia, that he escaped through the back door,” Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said in an interview on radio DZBB.
The information that Ang may be in Cambodia came from whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan. Remulla pointed out, however, that this “raw information” was subject for verification.
Still, Remulla said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Philippine National Police has moved to cancel Ang’s passport.
He added that during the Asean summit, which will be held this year in the Philippines, the president could ask Cambodian leaders to send Atong Ang back, if he is indeed in their country.
Since the announcement of the P10-million bounty for Ang, Remulla said they have already carried out eight raids on known properties of Ang and his associates, mostly farms and big homes, but no sign of the controversial businessman was seen.
E-sabong in Cambodia
Ang has reportedly set up online sabong (cockfighting) in Cambodia when offshore gaming operations were banned in the Philippines in 2024, Remulla said.
Remulla said local authorities are now in contact with their Cambodian counterparts to dig up more information.
Firearms surrendered
Through his lawyer, Ang has surrendered five of his six registered firearms. The other one went missing, his lawyer said.
Despite this, he is still considered “armed and dangerous” because he has at least 20 bodyguards.
But Remulla also cautioned Ang against trusting people too much since the tips they get about his whereabouts come from his men themselves.
“Yes, they (his men themselves) are the ones who leak [information],” he said.
Remulla, however, assured the public that they would find Ang. Like another fugitive, Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, Ang’s assets would be frozen, too.
No escape from accountability
Malacañang on Thursday assured the public that President Ferdinand Marcos would not allow Ang and all other personalities involved in the case of missing “sabungeros,” or cockfighting enthusiasts, to escape accountability.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the statement following reports that Ang may have fled to Cambodia.
Speaking to reporters, Castro said that the case of the missing sabungeros remained a key priority for the administration, with its progress being closely monitored by the president.
“If a prominent individual is involved in this kind of heinous crime, the government will not allow those responsible to evade justice,” Castro said during a press conference. She added that the administration remained committed to pursuing justice and that high-profile cases would receive due attention.
