CONTROVERSIAL Filipino-Chinese businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang will be investigated for possible criminal liabilities, including his alleged links to destabilize the Duterte administration, following the recent raids on his gambling dens in Northern Luzon, according to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.
Aguirre said Ang and Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. should be investigated for possible tax evasion.
“I will ask the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] to determine the tax liabilities of the operations of Ang and his companies,” Aguirre said in text message.
The Justice secretary also disclosed that authorities would look into Ang’s links to personalities implicated in the alleged destabilization plot against the Duterte administration.
“I have information on his connection with destabilizers. We are now building up that angle,” Aguirre said.
Police raided the gambling dens of Meridien in Tuguegarao City and Enrile and Peñablanca towns last Thursday and Friday and arrested 63 people involved in jueteng operations.
Ang’s employee Edwin Articulo led the raiding team to a sport utility vehicle where jueteng was being drawn in Barangay Catayaoan, Lasam.
Police also seized cash and computer units during the raid.
The raid came after Ang accused Aguirre and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. of plotting to kill him to eliminate jueteng to expand government’s small-town lottery.
Meridien, which secured a license to operate within the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority in Sta. Ana town, expanded its operations to Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Bicol.
But Aguirre already denied the allegation and dared Ang to present proofs.
“Atong Ang should present evidence of his accusation and file the appropriate charges against me in court or any proper office. I know he cannot because there is absolutely no truth to his accusation,” the Justice Secretary stressed.
Aguirre said he believed Ang was retaliating after he led the raid on Fontana Leisure Park that busted the billion-peso online illegal gambling operation being conducted by his business partner and best friend Jack Lam.
“This is clearly a demolition job against me, in conspiracy with the destabilizers of the Duterte administration,” Aguirre claimed.