The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has instructed police teams to wear body cameras during operations to locate businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, citing concerns that bribery attempts could derail efforts to arrest him.
Ang is currently the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) most wanted individual over the disappearance of more than 30 cockfighting enthusiasts, or sabungeros. Authorities have offered a ₱10-million reward for information leading to his capture.
“Ang iniingatan ko kasi magiging hulidap (extortion from suspects) yan eh, kaya dapat lahat yan naka (body camera) bago mag-raid. Kasi kung may makitang pera, mate-tempt na naman yan, di ba? So iniingatan ko talaga yan. Saka very quiet ako sa pag inspection (I’m careful because it might become a case of hulidap. So everyone should have a bodycam before the raid because if they see money, they’ll be tempted again, right? So I’m really careful about that. And I’m very quiet during the inspection),” Remulla told reporters on Wednesday.
The interior chief said Ang’s vast network and financial resources have complicated efforts to arrest him, noting that the businessman reportedly earns at least ₱1 billion a day from his gambling operations.
Police have already searched six properties linked to Ang but have yet to find him. Remulla said Ang was last spotted at one of his residences in Mandaluyong City.
He also dismissed claims that Ang is being protected by active or retired police officers allegedly linked to him.
Remulla said authorities are checking reports that Ang may have fled to Cambodia or Thailand and is allegedly operating an online gambling network near the border of the two countries.
“That (information) came from our witness,” Remulla said in a phone interview Thursday, referring to whistleblower Julie Patidongan, a former associate of Ang.
He added that there are no records indicating Ang left the country through official ports or airports, and said Philippine authorities have yet to formally coordinate with Cambodia or Thailand while the information is still being verified.
“So let’s wait. Maybe by today, we’ll get the full report and we will make our moves,” Remulla said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed that Ang, through his lawyer Gabriel Villareal, surrendered five of his six firearms after authorities revoked his gun licenses.
The weapons — including a 5.56-caliber rifle, a Glock 9mm handgun, a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun, a 9mm pistol, and a .38-caliber and Battle Arms Development 9mm pistol — were turned over Tuesday to the Mauway Police Sub-Station 6 in Mandaluyong City.
Villareal said another firearm, a .260-caliber rifle, was reportedly lost in October 2025 and could no longer be surrendered.
“In this connection, we further respectfully emphasize that the subject incident should not, in any manner, be used as a basis for the malicious, arbitrary, or unwarranted application for the issuance of a search warrant, considering that our client has acted in good faith,” Villareal said in a letter dated Jan. 20 addressed to the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO).
FEO chief Brig. Gen. Jose Manalad said in a separate phone interview that the surrendered firearms have yet to be formally received by his office and remain under the custody of the Mandaluyong police.