Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Businessman Atong Ang answers questions during an interview at the ABS-CBN News Broadcasting center  in Quezon City on October 24, 2019.  Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769048591221176897963632220191024-atong-ang-tvpatrol-GCS-0134_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Businessman Atong Ang answers questions during an interview at the ABS-CBN News Broadcasting center  in Quezon City on October 24, 2019.  Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News/File<br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (2nd UPDATE)</strong> — Wanted businessman Atong Ang is believed to be in either Cambodia or Thailand, according to the statement of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday. </p><p>DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Patidongan claimed that Ang has the means to travel to Cambodia and may have used &quot;backdoor&quot; routes to evade authorities.</p><p>&quot;According to Patidongan, our star witness, he has access to Cambodia. He has ways to get there, and we are investigating whether he passed through a backdoor,&quot; he said.</p><p>The Interior chief added that there were reports that Ang had online sabong operations based in Cambodia, suggesting that he may have already established a network in the area, including parts of Thailand.</p><p>&quot;Kasi tandaan mo lahat nung mga POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) lumipat sa Manila to Cambodia-Thailand border. So baka nag-exodus na papunta doon, nag-settle ng sariling operations doon,&quot; he added.</p><p>Remulla however said that authorities were still verifying the information.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/21/-congested-laguna-jail-ready-for-potential-atong-ang-detention-bjmp-1517">‘Congested’ Laguna jail ready for potential Atong Ang detention – BJMP</a></div><p>If it is confirmed that Ang is indeed in Cambodia or Thailand, Remulla said the matter would be elevated to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><p>&quot;I think that is a matter for the president, kasi chair siya ng ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), siya ang may access sa direct leadership talks, so we will bring it out to the President and we will see what he decides to do,&quot; Remulla said.</p><div><strong>PALACE: &#x27;MISSING SABUNGEROS&#x27; CASE IS A GOVERNMENT PRIORITY</strong></div><p>In a briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro underscored that the case of missing sabungeros is a government priority.</p><p>“Unang-una po, dito pa lamang sa atin sa Pilipinas sa panahon po ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. hindi po nakaligtas itong issue tungkol sa missing sabungeros. Pinatutukan po iyan at noong panahon po ni DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla hindi po ito pinakawalan,” Castro said Thursday, January 22.</p><p>“So, kung ito po nangyayari ngayon na isang malaking tao ay nasasangkot sa ganitong klaseng karumal-dumal na krimen hindi po pababayaan ng gobyerno na hindi managot ang mga taong dapat na managot sa hustisya,” she added. </p><div><strong>PASSPORT CANCELLATION</strong></div><div> </div><p>On the possibility of canceling Ang’s passport, Remulla said any action would depend on the President’s directive, as the issue involved international relations.</p><p>Addressing questions on why the Bureau of Immigration (BI) supposedly failed to monitor Ang’s alleged departure from the country, Remulla said it was difficult to secure the country’s extensive coastlines.</p><p>“We have, I think, 17,000 kilometers of coastline, so to say namo-monitor ng BI, hindi ganun kadali ‘yun. Bago ma-release ang warrant, hindi natin alam kung bibigyan siya ng warrant of arrest or out on bail so hindi natin puwedeng sabihin na ganun kasimple na ‘yan,” Remulla said.</p><p>“As far as the BI is concerned, of all our airports, ports of entry, ports of exit, hindi siya dumaan doon, that’s for sure. So ang tingin namin, kung totoo, dumaan siya backdoor,” he added.</p><p>Remulla said there had been no coordination yet with foreign counterparts as authorities continued to verify the reports.</p><div><strong>FIREARMS</strong></div><p>Despite reports that Ang’s camp has surrendered his firearms, Remulla emphasized that Ang was still considered armed and dangerous.</p><p>&quot;He earned P1 billion a day. Ang daling kumuha ng firearms kahit saan, ‘yung mga loose firearms,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/14/arrest-warrant-vs-atong-ang-out-1127">Arrest warrant vs Atong Ang out in &#x27;missing sabungeros&#x27; case</a></div><p>The five guns surrendered by Ang’s camp will undergo ballistic tests to determine whether the firearms were involved in criminal activities, the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office said.</p><p>It added that it was verifying the claim of Ang’s camp that his other firearm — a .260 rifle — was reportedly lost in October.</p><p>“Sa puntong ito nais naming linawin na ang naturang impormasyon ay declaration pa lamang nila at hindi pa itinuturing verified. Ang PNP-FEO ay sumusunod sa tamang proseso ng validation at fact-finding bago maglabas ng anumang pinal na pahayag. So antayin po muna natin na mabuo yung request nila at iba-validate po natin ‘yun,” PNP-FEO Chief PBGen. Jose Manalad Jr. said.  </p><p>Manalad also underscored that the PNP strictly observes laws in response to the reported statement of Ang’s camp that the lost rifle “should not, in any manner, be used as basis for unwarranted application for the issuance of a search warrant”.  </p><p>“Ang PNP po ay mahigpit na sumusunod sa konstitusyon o sa mga umiiral na batas. Anumang law enforcement action, kabilang ang aplikasyon ng search warrant ay dumadaan sa tamang legal na proseso at kinakailangang may sapat na basehan. Hindi po tayo gumagawa ng hakbang na labag sa karapatan ng sinuman,” he said.  </p><p>Ang is the subject of arrest warrants issued by two courts over his alleged involvement in the disappearance of sabungeros tied to his cockfighting operations.</p><p>The DILG earlier offered a P10-million reward for anyone who could share information to locate Ang.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NJM6hVeODoM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fpNPuCIb7KA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Wanted businessman Atong Ang is believed to be in either Cambodia or Thailand, according to the statement of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday.</p>

Wanted businessman Atong Ang is believed to be in either Cambodia or Thailand, according to the statement of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday.

Whistleblower says Atong Ang possibly in Cambodia or Thailand—DILG

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Whistleblower says Atong Ang possibly in Cambodia or Thailand—DILG

Karen De Guzman,

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 22, 2026 11:07 AM PHT

|

Updated January 22, 2026 04:33 PM PHT

Read More:

Atong Ang

crime

sabungeros

missing sabungeros

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