THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it is highly likely that fugitive gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang is still in the country because he has no exit record.
”Our records indicated that Ang has not left the country. There is no record that he legally exited in any of our major airports or ports,” BI spokesman Dana Sandoval said Wednesday.
Sandoval issued the clarification in reaction to an earlier statement by Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla that the fugitive businessman had been spotted in Vietnam, based on an intelligence report.
Sandoval, however, said that if Ang was able to slip out of the country, he may have left via the “southern backdoor,” the illegal route used by trafficking victims.
Sandoval gave assurances that the BI will share information on illegal routes used by trafficking victims and fugitives to help local government units (LGUs) and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) tighten security in emerging hot spots.
She said that the backdoor exit is now tightly watched by the Philippine Coast Guard, LGUs and LEAs, as recommended by a study conducted by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
”The IACAT study on illegal backdoor routes recommended better engagement of local government units and local enforcement agencies with the IACAT in the implementation of anti-trafficking laws in the southern backdoor,” Sandoval added.
Earlier, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stressed the need for a whole-of-government approach, including active participation from LGUs and LEAs in charge of areas being utilized as illegal travel routes.
”Everyone must work together as there is a need to strengthen efforts at all levels to curb illegal departures. Traffickers are exploiting illegal routes to avoid detection by immigration, making it crucial for LGUs and local authorities to increase monitoring and enforcement in vulnerable areas,” Viado said.
He added that the recent study by the IACAT on backdoor routes is a major step toward safeguarding these vulnerable areas.
Based on accounts of trafficking victims, they exited the Philippines using small boats from Jolo, Sulu, to Sabah, Malaysia, where their passports were stamped with fake BI departure stamps.
From Sabah, they traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Cambodia, where they worked in scam hubs.
On Jan. 14, a regional trial court (RTC) in Santa Cruz, Laguna, issued a warrant of arrest against Ang and his 17 co-accused for four counts of homicide and 15 counts of serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of more than 30 cockfighting enthusiasts, or “sabungeros,” four years ago.
They are also facing charges in RTC Lipa City, Batangas, and RTC San Pablo City, Laguna, for kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping with serious illegal detention. WILLIAM DEPASUPIL
