MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on Monday said three of its facilities are ready for fugitive businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang who is said to be the mastermind in the case of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts (sabungeros).
“We prepared three facilities: [In] Santa Cruz District Jail, Lipa City Jail and San Pablo City Jail,” BJMP spokesman Jail Superintendent Jayrex Bustinera said in an interview on DZBB.
“Santa Cruz was the first to issue a warrant that’s why we prepared for it first, although the facility is old compared to the two,” Bustinera said.
Among the 22 suspects in the case of the missing sabungeros, only Ang remains at large. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has so far raided 14 places believed to be his or belonging to his friends and associates.
Information that Ang flew to Cambodia is being verified by authorities.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said the manhunt is difficult because Ang prepared an escape plan.
“The difference [between the manhunt for Ang versus the others] is his money and extent of his influence.This is what makes locating him challenging,” CIDG-National Capital Region Director Col. John Guiagui told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
“He has really prepared for this,” he said.
Guiagui narrated that one of Ang’s properties, a condominium unit in BGC in Taguig City, was neat and empty, giving authorities the assumption he prepared the place because he knew they were coming.
“I went inside the house. It was really clean. [It seems] he really had it opened. It has digital locks, so he really had it opened because he knew we were coming,” Guiagui said.
While acknowledging that the search may take long, Guiagui said authorities will continue searching for Ang.