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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DILG: Atong Ang's government links, wide connections a major obstacle to his arrest

DILG: Atong Ang's government links, wide connections a major obstacle to his arrest

Published Jan 29, 2026 01:12 pm
The strong connections of gambling magnate Charlie “Atong’’ Ang to various government agencies has been a major stumbling block to his arrest, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) admitted on Thursday, Jan. 29.
DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic’’ Remulla said it is extremely difficult to get the services of trusted government comrades with his estimated P1 billion a day earnings for five years in on-line gambling.
“Pinakamahirap na bahagi ng trabaho ko yung penetration niya sa lahat ng hanay ng gobyerno. Sa dami ng pera niya ang hirap maghanap ngayon ng katiwala na bigyan ka ng solid na trabaho para mahanap siya (The most difficult part of my job is his “penetration’’ in all of the government agencies. With his huge wealth, it is even tougher now for a partner to provide you with solid work),’’ Remulla said.
Remulla noted that Ang may be in Cambodia or in the Philippines but believed that he remains in the country right now.
“Ang latest hindi siya (Ang) nakikita roon (Cambodia) eh. Nung umalis kasi lahat ng POGO (Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators) dito lahat pumunta ng Cambodia yan. Yung golden triangle Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. Diyan lumipat lahat ng POGO operator. Nag setup siya (Ang) ng meridian yung e-sabong (The latest report stated that he has not been spotted there. When all the POGOs left here, all their operations were transferred to Cambodia. The golden triangle of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. These are where the POGO operators went. He set-up the meridian of the e-sabong),’’ Remulla noted.
Further, Remulla assured that the data gathered were based on solid intelligence reports provided by Ang’s former right hand man Julie Patidongan, who knew the “set-up’’ in Cambodia even before.
Likewise, Remulla explained that the country’s “porous’’ southern border section that is nearer to Malaysia has been a big challenge in arresting Ang.
“Meron kasi tayong porous na southern border yung mas malapit sa Malaysia. Doon kasi pump boat lang makakatawid ka na. Doon nga isang munisipyo doon ang currency nila ringgit (Malaysian currency) kaysa peso kasi ang trade nila mas malaki sa Malaysia kaysa sa Pilipinas (We (Philippines) have a porous part in the southern border that is nearer to Malaysia. In that area, you can cross by means of a pump boat. There is even a municipality that uses ringgit as the currency instead of peso since their trade is much more profitable in Malaysia than the Philippines),’’ he added.
Previously, Remulla has pondered on raising the P10 million reward money for Ang’s arrest, acknowledging that his patience is thinning and may actually increase the current bounty for any information leading to Ang’s arrest.
He assured that anybody who can give the particulars and pertinent details leading directly to Ang’s arrest will get the P10 million without any questions being asked.
A visibly irked Remulla branded Ang as the country’s top most wanted person, being his alleged involvement in the killing of more than 100 missing sabungeros.
Patidongan claimed that Ang will not submit himself to authorities, noting that the businessman is “not an ordinary person.”
“International ang kanyang grupo (His group is international),’’ Patidongan said.
If Patidongan’s declaration is accurate, Remulla said that Ang may have used backdoor channels to leave the country.
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