MANILA, Philippines — Police officers were sent to Cambodia to hunt down fugitive businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced yesterday.
Remulla said Philippine National Police personnel were sent to Cambodia to verify information that Ang had fled to the Southeast Asian country.
Ang is wanted for the kidnapping and killing of over 100 sabungeros or cockfight aficionados.
“We coordinated with our counterparts in Cambodia to find out if Atong Ang is really there,” Remulla said in an interview on ANC.
Remulla said the information that Ang may have fled to Cambodia came from whistleblower Julie Patidongan, the businessman’s former associate who tagged him as the brains in the murder of the sabungeros.
Apart from Cambodia, Remulla earlier said Thailand is also being eyed as a possible destination for Ang in evading arrest.
Authorities raided 18 properties allegedly owned by Ang, but he was nowhere to be found.
If Ang has indeed escaped, Remulla said the businessman may have left the country through the backdoor.
With his earnings in the gambling industry, which could reach P150 billion over the years, Remulla believes that Ang may have P10 billion in cash on hand, which he uses to bribe people.