Metro Manila, Philippines – Filipino gambling tycoon Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang, considered the country’s “most wanted” fugitive, is not in Cambodia, the spokesperson of Phnom Penh’s foreign ministry said on Saturday, Feb. 7.
Ang is facing arrest warrants for multiple counts of kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping with serious illegal detention in relation to the case of missing “sabungeros” or cockfight enthusiasts.
“According to an official report from the Immigration General Department of the Ministry of the Interior of Cambodia, there is no record of Charlie Tiu Hay Ang’s entry or exit at any Cambodian border checkpoints,” read the statement of Cambodia’s foreign ministry.
In a message to NewsWatch Plus, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said they “will have to take their word for it.”
On Jan. 27, Remulla said a team of Philippine police was deployed to Cambodia to search for Ang.
He earlier said the “raw information” came from suspect-turned-whistleblower Julie “Totoy” Patidongan.
“All elements of the PNP (Philippine National Police) are actively searching for him,” Remulla told NewsWatch Plus. “Justice will be had for the 100 plus missing sabungeros.”
Authorities are offering a ₱10-million reward for information that would lead to Ang’s arrest.
