MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla on Thursday said that fugitive businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang was spotted in Calabarzon two weeks ago.
“Atong Ang has a red notice. He was spotted in Region 4A a little more than 2 weeks ago nakita siya. We had follow-up operations, we missed him by a day. Tuloy tuloy ang (man hunt) namin,” Remulla said in a television interview.
“Our (man hunt) continues, apparently he travels in a small group, it seems like there are 3 of them and then he moves around the house every 3 days, 4 days, 5 days he just moves around),” Remulla said in a TV interview.
Remulla previously told reporters that Ang had narrowly evaded arrest two weeks ago, but he initially refused to disclose where Ang was physically seen in the country.
The secretary’s revelation seems to contradict earlier reports that Ang had fled the country particularly in Cambodia and most recently, Vietnam.
Three courts in Laguna and Batangas issued non-bailable warrants against Ang for kidnapping and serious illegal detention linked to the disappearance of 34 cockfight enthusiasts. A PHP20-million reward has been offered for his arrest.
Twenty of Ang’s co-accused were taken into police custody when courts in Laguna and Batangas issued warrants for their arrest last January, leaving the gambling tycoon as the sole accused at large.
