Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Atong Ang

Jessie Cruzat

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177728559220220260205-illegal-cigarette-production-samyoung-MT4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), led by Secretary Jonvic C. Remulla, the Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by Police General Melencio Nartatez Jr., and the Bureau of Customs led by Ariel Nepomuceno, conduct an inspection operation against an alleged illegal cigarette manufacturing facility at Samyoung Global Enterprises in Barangay Panipuan, Mexico, Pampanga, on February 5, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/>The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), led by Secretary Jonvic C. Remulla,  the Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by Police General Melencio Nartatez Jr., and the Bureau of Customs led by Ariel Nepomuceno, conduct an inspection operation against an alleged illegal cigarette manufacturing facility at Samyoung Global Enterprises in Barangay Panipuan, Mexico, Pampanga, on February 5, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA (UPDATED) – The police officer who was allegedly a “protector of illegal activities” in Negros Occidental is connected to fugitive businessman Atong Ang, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Monday.The police major has been relieved of his post and is now under restrictive custody in Camp Crame following a raid at an illegal cigarette factory in Bago City, which he had reportedly been protecting.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/4/22/illegal-cigarette-manufacturing-warehouse-discovered-in-bago-city-1603">Illegal cigarette manufacturing warehouse discovered in Bago City</a></div>Ten Chinese nationals were arrested in that raid on April 21, while 15 workers, including a minor, were rescued.Remulla said the owner of the cigarette factory and the owner of an e-sabong operation raised on April 22 in Talisay City are the same. “What’s complicated here, in our investigation, is that the owner of the illegal tobacco manufacturing in Bago City and the e-sabong operation in Talisay City is the same. It’s a single operation,” Remulla said.The secretary also revealed that the police officer previously served as Ang’s protector, but clarified that Ang’s connection to the Negros operation has not yet been established.  “They were known as cohorts during the height of e-sabong days in 2021. ‘Yong kasagsagan ng e-sabong. 2020 hanggang 2022. ‘Yong police major na protector at ‘yong alias Don Robert ay mga tao ni Atong Ang. Pero kung sabihin ko na si Atong Ang ang involved dito, I cannot say in conclusivity na kasama siya,” Remulla said.“Siya ‘yong protector. Siya ‘yong nagliligaw sa mga pulis kung may follow up operations na ginagawa,” Remulla added.PNP Spokesperson PBGen. Randulf Tuaño said that they are also looking at the possible connection of e-sabong operations in Talisay, and the recent raid in Tondo, Manila.“Kasama po iyan sa investigation, kasali din po sa investigation ang isang police major ng CIDG sa Bacolod City na kung saan ito raw po ay involved. At kung may kaugnayan din po ‘yan sa nangyari noong March 24 na operations po ng CIDG sa Tondo,” said Tuaño at a briefing in Camp Crame.“Dalawa po ang pinupuntahan ng investigation po ng CIDG — ‘yong possible link nga po ni Atong Ang sa nasabing operation at ‘yon pong link naman ng nasabing police major kay Atong Ang bilang operator po niya sa nasabing e-sabong,” Tuaño added.The official said manhunt operations against Ang will continue. Ang is wanted for kidnapping, homicide and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of cock fight enthusiasts or the “missing sabungeros.”<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/20/doj-reports-57-bones-recovered-in-taal-lake-as-search-for-missing-sabungeros-continues-1738">DOJ reports 57 bones recovered in Taal Lake as search for missing &#x27;sabungeros&#x27; continues</a></div>From December 2025 to April 2026 alone, authorities have reportedly seized nearly P4 billion worth of illegal cigarettes nationwide.Major operations were conducted in the Negros Island Region, Bulacan, Pampanga, Metro Manila, and Cebu.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/4/18/pnp-seizes-p5m-in-smuggled-cigarettes-arrests-6-linked-to-coast-guard-1158">PNP seizes P5M in smuggled cigarettes, arrests 6 ‘linked’ to Coast Guard</a></div>

The police officer who was allegedly a “protector of illegal activities” in Negros Occidental is connected to fugitive businessman Atong Ang, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Monday.

The police officer who was allegedly a “protector of illegal activities” in Negros Occidental is connected to fugitive businessman Atong Ang, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Monday.

'Protector cop' linked to Atong Ang, Remulla says

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'Protector cop' linked to Atong Ang, Remulla says

Jessie Cruzat,

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 27, 2026 06:28 PM PHT

|

Updated April 27, 2026 09:23 PM PHT

Read More:

ounterfeit cigarettes

NIR

e-sabong

police major

Atong Ang

DILG

Bago

Talisay

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