PNP intensifies manhunt vs. Atong Ang, Bantag, Dumlao amid Interpol red notices

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it has intensified manhunt operations against businessman Atong Ang, former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag, and former police officer Rafael Dumlao III following the issuance of Interpol red notices.

This is after Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced that Interpol red notices have been issued against the accused individuals in high-profile cases.

“Kasama po ‘yan noong Sunday na emergency conference,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier Randulf Tuaño told GMA News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(That was included in the emergency conference on Sunday.)

“In-activate po ang lahat sa mga manhunt operations team po natin sa buong regional offices nationwide para po i-intensify 'yun pong sinasabi natin na pag-aresto sa mga nasabing indibiduwal,” he added.

(We have activated all our manhunt operations teams in all regional offices nationwide to intensify efforts for the arrest of the said individuals.)

Citing intelligence reports, Tuaño said the three are still in the Philippines.

As defined by 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.

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 has denied the allegations against him.

The reward for information leading to Ang’s arrest is P20 million.

He was spotted in Cavite in April.

In April 2023, a Muntinlupa court ordered the arrest of Bantag in connection with the death of Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid in October 2022.

Bantag has denied the allegations against him.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) previously said a cash reward of P2 million would be given for information on the whereabouts of Bantag.

Bantag was reportedly in the Cordillera area.

Meanwhile, in July 2024, the Court of Appeals (CA) reversed Dumlao's acquittal in the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo in 2016 and instead sentenced the cop to reclusion perpetua, the Supreme Court said.

A P1 million bounty was offered for Dumlao.—AOL, GMA News