More than P10M? SILG Remulla mulls higher reward vs Atong Ang

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Friday said he is considering increasing the P10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Atong Ang, who is facing arrest warrants in connection with the missing sabungeros case.

“Malapit na. Kung ako mapikon talagang dadagdagan ko na 'yan,” Remulla told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview. 

(It's coming soon. If I get angry, I might do it.)

READ: Who is Atong Ang?

Remulla, last week, 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.

Cambodia

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.)

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

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.)

So far, Remulla said authorities have conducted operations in 14 possible locations of Ang in the country, but he was not found in these areas. The recent operations were conducted in Cavite and Pampanga on Thursday. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News