Atong Ang still in the Philippines — DOJ chief Vida

Businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, who is facing charges over the missing sabungeros case, is still in the country as there are no records indicating otherwise, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said Tuesday.

“Of course, we have partners. We have member countries na nakikipag-cooperate sa atin (that are coordinating with us). And we’re exploring all avenues,” Vida said in an ambush interview.

“Ang record natin nandidito (records show he is here) … as of speaking. Wala sa [There is none at the Bureau of Immigration] eh. Of course, those are the formal channels,” he added. 

Ang is facing charges for kidnapping with homicide as well as kidnapping and serious illegal detention before the courts of Sta. Cruz, Laguna; Lipa, Batangas; and San Pablo, Laguna. 

Of the three, only the Sta. Cruz RTC Branch 26 and the Lipa RTC Branch 13 have issued arrest warrants against him.

Meanwhile, when asked, Vida did not brush aside the possibility that Ang may already be out of the Philippines.

“If we’re talking about the realm of possibility, everything is possible, ‘di ba (right?) ? If you have resources you can do that, ‘di ba (right)? And if you have that desire to do it, you can do it with the resources,” he said.

He assured that law enforcement agencies are continuing its search.

“Malapit, malayo (Far, near), I cannot predict,” he said.

Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez previously said that Ang’s trial has commenced in Sta. Cruz and Lipa.

READ: Who is Atong Ang?

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also previously announced a P10-million reward for information leading to the arrest of Ang. Remulla has said that Ang’s connections with various levels of government is the biggest obstacle to his arrest. 

Earlier, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that Ang is not in their country.

This came after Remulla said that the Philippines has sent a liaison to Cambodia following reports that Ang already flew there. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News