Atong Ang reportedly in Cambodia —SILG Remulla

Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday said there are reports that businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang may be in Cambodia.

“May information na nasa Cambodia. But that’s raw information… Kasi nag-set up siya ng online sabong sa Cambodia,” Remulla told Dobol B TV in an interview.

(There's information that he's in Cambodia. But that's raw information... Because he set up online cockfighting games in Cambodia.)

Read: Who is Atong Ang?

Remulla, however, maintained that they are confident that Ang is still in the Philippines. 

But he added that authorities are working on the cancellation of Ang’s passport to prevent him from traveling.

The DILG Secretary said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. may request the arrest of Ang from the government of Cambodia if the information is confirmed.

“Kapag i-cancel po ’yan, ang ASEAN magiging chairman ang ating Pangulo. Puwede niya pang i-request ’yan sa kapwa pangulo niya o hari yata sa Cambodia,” Remulla said.

(If Ang’s passport is canceled, our President is the chairman of ASEAN, he may request the president or king of Cambodia to arrest Ang.)

“Katulad ng ginawa kay Teves. Ni-request niya ’yun sa Timor-Leste, tapos sinuli dito,” he added.

(It’s the same as what was done to Teves. Marcos requested it from Timor-Leste, then Teves was returned here.)

Remulla was referring to former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. who was arrested in Timor-Leste in May 2025 in relation to the killing of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

Remulla, Junior on Atong Ang: We are confident he’s still in the country, but there is a possibility, may information na nasa Cambodia. pic.twitter.com/owMHxTDGck

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 22, 2026

Backdoor

In a phone interview, Remulla told reporters that it was whistleblower Julie Patidongan who gave the information that Ang was possibly at the Cambodia-Thailand border.

Patidongan previously said that Ang will not submit himself to authorities, noting that the businessman is “not an ordinary person.”

“International ang kanyang grupo,” he said.

(His group is international.)

Remulla said that if this is true, Ang may have used backdoor channels to leave the country.

"As far as the BI (Bureau of Immigration) is concerned... all our airports and ports of entry and ports of exit, hindi siya dumaan doon. That’s for sure. So, ang tingin namin kung totoo, dumaan siya sa Cambodia, dumaan siya sa backdoor,” said Remulla. 

As far as the BI is concerned... all our airports and ports of entry and ports of exit, he didn't go through there. That's for sure. So, we think if it's true that he went through Cambodia, he went through the backdoor.)

For Remulla, Ang is still considered “armed and dangerous.”

“Of course, if you earn P1 billion a day, ang dali kumuha ng firearms kahit saan yung mga loose firearms lang,” he said.

(Of course, if you earn P1 billion a day, it's easy to get firearms anywhere—just loose firearms.)

Missing Sabungeros

Following the P10 million reward for information on Ang’s location, Remulla said authorities have already received tips that led to eight operations but the businessman was not found in the reported areas.

Arrest warrants have been issued against Ang and others, stemming from multiple counts of kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the missing sabungeros case.

Ang remains the only accused still at large.

His firearm licenses have been revoked. Six firearms were registered under Ang’s name. On Tuesday, only five firearms were surrendered to the Mandaluyong City Police Station. According to Ang's lawyer, one firearm was missing. 

Philippine authorities have requested the issuance of an Interpol red notice against Ang.

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. 

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.

Ang has denied the allegations against him.

His lawyer, Atty. Gabriel Villareal, previously described the Laguna court's arrest warrant as “premature” and “legally questionable,” as it supposedly failed to meet the constitutional standards that should have been observed under the circumstances.

“Clearly, the court merely acted on the incomplete and one-sided information provided by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in its determination of probable cause, without having even seen the counter affidavits and exculpatory evidence of the respondents, including that of Mr. Ang,” Villareal said. —Joviland Rita with reports from Ian Cruz/ VAL, GMA Integrated News