MANILA — The manhunt for businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang has intensified nationwide after Cambodian authorities formally denied reports that he fled to their country, prompting Philippine officials to conclude that the fugitive remains in the Philippines and to refocus search operations at home, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.
Remulla said investigators are stepping up efforts after confirmation from the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation that Ang never entered Cambodia, contradicting earlier claims tied to a witness account.
“We think he’s still in the Philippines. The information that he was in Cambodia came from the witness, Julie Patidongan. We haven’t stopped looking for him here,” Remulla said.
In a statement dated Feb. 6, the Cambodian foreign ministry said immigration data showed no trace of Ang crossing its borders.
“There is no record of Charlie Tiu Hay Ang’s entry or exit at any Cambodian border checkpoints,” the ministry said.
“This clarification is issued to dispel recent media reports suggesting that Charlie Tiu Hay Ang maybe hiding in Cambodia, while a team of Philippine police officers had been dispatched to search for him,” it added.
Remulla earlier confirmed that the Philippine National Police had sent a verification team to Cambodia following information provided by Julie Patidongan, a former associate of Ang who has turned government witness in the probe into the disappearance of several cockfighting enthusiasts.
With the Cambodia lead ruled out, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said it has tightened coordination with law enforcement units nationwide. Ang has been placed on the department’s most wanted list, with a ₱10 million reward offered for information leading to his arrest./PN
