MANILA — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed that fugitive gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang managed to exit the Philippines through unlawful backdoor channels.
“Backdoor (Philippine entry/exit point) siya dumaan,’’ Remulla confirmed.
Ang is currently facing multiple serious charges, including kidnapping with homicide, as well as kidnapping and serious illegal detention, filed before the courts of Sta. Cruz, Laguna, Lipa, Batangas, and San Pablo, Laguna. These legal battles stem from his alleged connection to the high-profile missing sabungeros (cockfighting aficionados) case.
According to Remulla, law enforcement agencies face a tough challenge in tracking down the fugitive due to his vast financial resources, which have allegedly been converted into digital assets. Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies existing electronically and independent of any government or central bank control.
Remulla pointed out that tracing these financial trails and tracking Ang’s physical movements remains an uphill battle for authorities.
“I think he (Ang) has $3 billion in cash with him all over the world converted into cryptocurrency,” Remulla said.
”Ayan ang mahirap, naimbento ‘yung crypto, hard to trace kung nasaan siya,” he added, noting that investigators are actively pursuing leads on his possible whereabouts within the region.
Despite the hurdles, security forces believe that Ang is currently hiding somewhere within Southeast Asia or the Pacific.
Remulla also expressed the government’s strong determination to bring the suspect to justice.
“Sino ba hindi may gusto (to arrest Ang)? Kung puwede nga ako na magta-tumbling na ngayon,’’ Remulla remarked.