The DILG has raised the bounty for Atong Ang.
The bounty for the wanted gaming tycoon, Atong Ang, has been raised to PHP 20 million, as announced by the DILG.
Previously, a third arrest warrant was issued against gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, related to the
missing sabungeros case
, or the disappearance of cockfight enthusiasts, as confirmed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
DOJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez said that the branch clerk of the court of San Pablo, Laguna, Regional Trial Court Branch 29, confirmed the existence of the court order.
“The Branch Clerk of Court (BCC) of Branch 29 RTC San Pablo has confirmed that a warrant in the Atong Ang case has been issued. However, the panel of prosecutors has not yet been furnished an official copy of said warrant or any order for its issuance,”
he added.
After this confirmation, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced on Thursday that the bounty for Ang has been raised to PHP 20 million amid the manhunt. This amount will accordingly come from the confidential funds provided to the PNP and the DILG for the cases.
Whistleblower Julie Patidongan identified Ang as the alleged mastermind behind the kidnappings and claimed that the missing sabungeros were killed, with their bodies dumped into Taal Lake. Ang is facing multiple warrants of arrest linked to the case of missing cockfight enthusiasts.
“Napakarami niyang pera, napakarami niyang pinatay, napakalaki ng kinita niya. In the interest of justice, dapat naman managot siya. Hindi naman porket may pera siya, makakawala siya habambuhay,”
Remulla said.
Previously, Ang denied the accusations against him and, in return, he filed complaints against the whistleblower.
Meanwhile, it was reported that while others speculate that
Ang is in Cambodia
, the intel and reports show that he is still in the Philippines. Remulla believes that “he is still in the Philippines,” after the Cambodian foreign ministry confirmed that he neither traveled to nor entered the Southeast Asian nation.