By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Fugitive gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang has left the Philippines and was last seen in Cambodia, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said, as authorities continue their manhunt for the businessman linked to the alleged kidnapping and killing of cockfighting enthusiasts, or sabungeros.
Remulla expressed confidence that Ang was in Cambodia during an interview with ANC on Monday, although he did not disclose how the businessman allegedly managed to leave the country despite being the subject of an extensive law enforcement operation.
Ang faces arrest warrants issued by courts in Batangas and Laguna over charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention and homicide.
Remulla also claimed that Ang may have converted an estimated $3 billion into cryptocurrency, potentially giving him the financial resources to secure assistance while evading authorities.
“With that kind of money, you can pay people,” Remulla said.
Meanwhile, Remulla disclosed that authorities know the whereabouts of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity linked to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
According to Remulla, Dela Rosa is not in Davao City but in another location in Mindanao, where he is reportedly secluded and protected by a heavily armed group.
The Interior secretary declined to identify the group, saying authorities must negotiate because of its armed strength.
“They have a lot of armed men. They are a powerful group that we have to negotiate,” Remulla said.
Remulla cautioned against an aggressive arrest operation against Dela Rosa, warning that a confrontation could result in bloodshed comparable to the 2017 siege of Marawi City.
The government’s statements place both Ang and Dela Rosa at the center of separate law enforcement challenges, with authorities facing questions over Ang’s reported departure from the country and the risks surrounding a possible operation to take Dela Rosa into custody.
ia/xf
