Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said the government will provide a P10- million reward for information leading to the arrest of Charlie “Atong” Ang, the primary suspect in the missing sabungero case..
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has requested the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice against Ang, now considered a fugitive from justice.
“The DILG will offer a P10-million reward for his arrest. Any information leading to the conclusive arrest of Atong Ang will merit a P10-million reward,” Remulla said, adding that the bounty was meant to speed up Ang’s arrest/
The DILG chief called on Ang to stop evading arrest and cooperate with authorities. “Surrender now peacefully and we will treat you with respect. If you become a fugitive from the law, then we will treat you like a fugitive,” Remulla told Ang.
He added though that law enforcement operations will strictly follow due process. “The PNP has no plans for extra judicial killing.”
According to Remulla, some 320,000 policemen have been directed to take part in the nationwide manhunt for Ang, now tagged by the government as the “most wanted criminal in the country.”
In the same press briefing, Remulla said Ang, with the kind of cases he is facing, is now considered the “No.1 most wanted person” in the country.
Earlier, a Batangas trial court issued four warrants of arrest for homicide and serious illegal detention against 18 individuals linked to the disappearance of more than 100 cockfighting enthusiasts during the height of E-sabong operations. Seventeen suspects, 10 policemen and seven civilians, are already in police custody, while authorities continue to track down Ang.
With Ang considered as “armed and dangerous,” the PNP has sought the revocation of licenses for six firearms registered under his name.
Remulla said once arrested, Ang will be brought to Camp Crame in Quezon Ctty before being transferred to a detention facility under the jurisdiction of the court that issued the warrants
“Although [based on] our recent monitoring, he is still in the country. We have also requested the NCB (National Central Bureau) Manila of the Interpol for a red notice,” CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said in a press briefing Thursday.
“In case Ang has left the country through the back door or whatever, other countries that are members of Interpol may arrest him,” he added.
An Interpol red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
Morico also said they are already coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration for the issuance of a hold departure order against Ang.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Remulla: Atong Ang is country’s Most Wanted with P10m bounty”
