Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has refuted as “unfair” allegations that his offer of a P10-million cash reward for the arrest of gambling lord Charlie “Atong” Ang was simply a show and that the bounty would just line the pocket of those with vested interest.
Meanwhile, a composite team of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday tried to serve a warrant of arrest on Ang at one of his purported properties in San Antonio, Zambales.
The warrant servers arrived at a beach house believed to be owned by Ang in Barangay Pundaquit, but came back empty-handed.
Remulla was reacting to the criticisms, particularly the snide remark of former Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon who claimed that the authorities already knew where Ang was hiding.
“That’s a very unfair statement,” Remulla retorted.
He explained the reward offer was raised by the DILG, warning that delaying Ang’s arrest would be counter-productive for the fugitive.
“If I already knew where he is hiding, I would like to have him captured at once. Why do I need to dramatize it,” Remulla argued.
The secretary also said law enforcers have pressed their manhunt for Ang, but intelligence information led them to nowhere.
“We have conducted at least three raids in the last two days… all negative,” he pointed out.
According to him, they were not giving up on Ang, and that the police would intensify their manhunt in the coming days.
“So we are actively pursuing him wherever he may be,” Remulla said.
He acknowledged though the challenges of tracking down a fugitive with substantial financial resources, but underscored that the government’s capabilities “far outweigh those of any individual.”
Ang, officially declared as a fugitive, went to deeper hiding on the heels of multiple arrest warrants against him.
Remulla hinted that Ang was still in the country, citing Immigration records on the matter.
However, whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan said over the weekend that he believed Ang has already fled the country.
