Vida denies NBI excluded from Atong Ang search

Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida on Thursday denied that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is not taking part in the search for businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, who is facing charges over the missing sabungeros.

He issued the remark when asked about reports that the NBI is excluded from the search.

“Ang pag-uutos ng korte ay sa lahat ng law enforcement agencies at siyempre nag tutulong-tulong ang ating agencies, no?” Vida said in an ambush interview.

(The court’s order is for all law enforcement agencies, and of course our agencies are working together.)

“I definitely deny that there’s such instructions even from the Secretary of Justice nor in any of our discussions with NBI Director Lito Magno,” he added.

The secretary also said that no public official is leaking information regarding operations.

This came after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that he is not seeking assistance from the NBI regarding their search for Ang. Remulla also said that the "SOJ" advised him to refrain from involving the NBI due to possible leaks. 

NBI spokesperson Palmer Mallari, however, said the agency has stepped up its manhunt and information-gathering efforts to locate Ang.

Meanwhile, after Remulla’s statement said there were reports that Ang may be in Cambodia, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it has not monitored any travel records for Ang so far. — with a report from JP Soriano/BM, GMA Integrated News