Atong Ang in Cambodia? BI says no recent travel monitored

The Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday said there is no record of any recent travel by Atong Ang after reports claiming that he may have already fled to Cambodia amid arrest warrants against him in the missing sabungeros case.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said immigration records show no legal departure by Ang and there is also no information indicating that he left the Philippines through illegal routes so far.

“Sa atin po, kapag tinignan natin 'yung records ng BI, wala pong recent travel itong si Mr. Atong Ang. No recent departure doon sa ating mga records,” she told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

(For us, when we look at the BI records, there is no recent travel by Mr. Atong Ang. No recent departure in our records.)

For illegal migration corridors, Sandoval said the Philippine Coast Guard and local law enforcement are manning these areas.

“Kapag naman po sila ay may na-encounter doon na illegal crosser doon sa mga areas na iyon, pinagbibigay alam din naman po nila sa Bureau of Immigration to check 'yung records ng mga taong 'yun,” she said.

(When they encounter an illegal crosser in those areas, they also inform the Bureau of Immigration to check the records of those people.)

“And so far po, up to this point, wala pa po tayo nakukuhang coordination sa kanila. Ibig sabihin, wala pa po silang na-intercept na ganun,” she added.

(And so far, up to this point, we haven't received any coordination from them. That means, there is no interception yet.)

Earlier, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities are still confident that Ang is in the Philippines but acknowledged raw information suggesting he may be in Cambodia.

“We are confident he’s here in the country, but there’s a possibility na nasa, may information na nasa Cambodia. But that’s raw information…Kasi nag-set up siya ng online sabong sa Cambodia,” Remulla earlier said.

(We are confident he's here in the country, but there's a possibility, there's information that he's in Cambodia. But that's raw information... Because he set up online cockfighting games in Cambodia.)

Remulla said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. may request the arrest of Ang to the government of Cambodia if the information is confirmed.

A P10-million reward is being offered for information on Ang’s location.

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.

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. —AOL, GMA Integrated News