Interpol red notice vs Atong Ang requested

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Thursday said it has requested the issuance of an Interpol red notice against businessman Atong Ang amid the arrest warrants against him over the missing sabungeros case.

“As part also of our way forward, although our recent monitoring, he is still in the country, but we have also requested with [National Central Bureau] Manila of the Interpol a red notice,” CIDG chief Police Major General Robert Alexander Morico II said at a press conference.

This is in case Ang will be able to exit the Philippines through the backdoor or other means so that authorities in other countries and Interpol members may arrest him.

As defined by the Interpol, a red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. 

A red notice is not an international arrest warrant.

The individuals are wanted by the requesting member country, or international tribunal. Member countries apply their own laws in deciding whether to arrest a person.

According to a Super Radyo dzBB report by Christian Maño on Thursday, the National Bureau of Investigation’s manhunt operations against Ang will continue.

NBI Director Lito Magno also called on Ang to surrender for the case to progress faster and smoothly.

P10-M reward

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla officially announced the P10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Ang.

“Ang DILG po ay maglalagay ng P10 milyon patong para sa kanyang aresto (The DILG is putting up a P10-million reward for his arrest). Any information leading to the conclusive arrest of Atong Ang will merit a P10-million reward,” Remulla said.

“No questions asked. Basta ikaw yung nagbigay ng impormasyon leading directly to the arrest ay P10 million na reward para sa kanya (If you are the one who provides the lead leading to the arrest, there will be a P10-million reward for you),” he added.

Remulla said he considers Ang as the country’s number one most wanted person, citing his alleged involvement in the killing of more than 100 missing sabungeros.

He pointed out that Ang is classified by authorities as armed and dangerous.

NBI spokesperson Palmer Mallari also said that the P10 million bounty set on Ang by the DILG would be a big help in their information gathering, but acknowledged that the embattled businessman also has adequate manpower, money, resources, and properties to utilize.

NBI said they have yet to receive any surrender feeler or information on the whereabouts of Ang, but immigration records show that the businessman is still in the country.

Meanwhile, Morico said the CIDG recommended the revocation of Ang’s firearm licenses, which was approved by the PNP acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

Ang’s lawyers have been informed and ordered to surrender his firearms to the Firearms and Explosives Office. Six firearms are registered under Ang’s name, based on the police records.

The CIDG is also working closely with the Bureau of Immigration for the implementation of a hold departure order against Ang. 

The CIDG is also working closely with the Bureau of Immigration for the implementation of a departure order against Ang. 

Also, Morico said the CIDG is considering recommending to include Ang in the national most wanted list to the DILG.

A Batangas court has issued four warrants of arrest involving 18 accused, including Ang, stemming from multiple counts of kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

Of the 18 accused, 10 are police personnel and eight are civilians.

The 10 PNP personnel, including a dismissed police officer, are already under custody and currently detained at Camp Crame. Seven of the eight civilians have been accounted for and are now under the custody of CIDG Batangas. 

Ang remains the only accused still at large.

Morico said authorities served the warrants at four known locations linked to Ang in Metro Manila, Lipa City, and Laguna on Wednesday, but he was not found in any of the areas. 

According to him, the operations to locate Ang are ongoing. — with a report from Jiselle Casucian/ RF/RSJ/AOL, GMA Integrated News