PNP tightens airport, seaport watch vs Atong Ang

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it has intensified monitoring at airports and seaports nationwide to prevent the possible departure of Atong Ang, who is facing arrest warrant over the missing sabungeros case.

PNP acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered closer coordination with immigration authorities as part of the manhunt against Ang.

“The most logical option for him is to surrender because the PNP is determined to comply with the arrest warrant issued by the court. If he is indeed innocent as he has been claiming, the more that he should be encouraged to surrender to face the accusations against him,” he said.

According to Nartatez, all ports of exit have been placed under heightened alert as tracker teams and intelligence units are activated to ensure that Atong cannot leave the country.

Ang is among the 18 accused facing arrest warrant in connection with the disappearance of cockfight enthusiasts. He is facing 15 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention and four counts of kidnapping with homicide, according to the PNP.

The other 17 accused are already in police custody.'

Ang’s lawyer, Gabriel Villareal, earlier requested to be given some time to review the accusations against his client.

Some families of the missing sabungeros, meanwhile, are publicly calling on Ang to surrender. Among them is Charlene Lasco Biligán, the sister of one of the missing sabungeros, Ricardo "Jonjon" Ricafort Lasco Jr.

“Sumuko na po kayo... Dito niyo patunayan kung talagang wala kayong kasalanan. Napakarami niyo pong abogado, napakarami pong magde-depensa sa inyo. Sa totoo lang ang ganda ng laban niyo, binigyan kayo ng pagkakataon para idepensa sarili niyo,” she said.

(Please surrender. Surrender because you say you are innocent. Here you can prove if you truly have done nothing wrong. You have so many lawyers, so many people who will defend you. In truth you have a good chance because you have been given the opportunity to defend yourself.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News