The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has launched an inquiry into claims that fugitive gambling figure Atong Ang may have escaped the country, NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed.
Matibag clarified that officials have not received formal confirmation of Ang’s departure and are presently evaluating data collected from open-source intelligence.
“This is yet to be verified. We have no official information on this. Other than the open source intel that we have na nakita namin sa report, yun pa lang,” Matibag said.
The NBI chief chose not to disclose specific sites where agents have carried out search operations for Ang, who is implicated as a key mastermind in the multi-year investigation into the missing cockfighting enthusiasts, or sabungeros. Matibag noted that authorities are ready to re-examine previously searched locations as part of the ongoing manhunt.
In contrast, the Philippine National Police (PNP) previously expressed confidence that the businessman is still hiding within national borders.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier revealed that operatives narrowly missed capturing Ang following a sighting in Cavite. Remulla explained that the suspect has been constantly moving across various hideouts in the CALABARZON area every two days to evade law enforcement.
Ang faces active arrest warrants issued by regional trial courts in Laguna and Cavite over his alleged involvement in the abduction and killing of several sabungeros from 2021 to 2022. Government authorities have placed a ₱20 million bounty on his capture.