INTERIOR Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday defended the P10-million reward offered for information leading to the arrest of businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, dismissing criticism that authorities already know Ang’s whereabouts as “unfair.”
Remulla was responding to remarks, including those made by former election commissioner Rowena Guanzon, suggesting that law enforcement already knows where Ang is and that the reward could simply be pocketed.
“That’s a very unfair statement,” Remulla said. He stressed that the bounty was personally authorized and funded by his office, noting that delaying Ang’s arrest would run counter to his own interests. “Kung alam ko lang ’yun, it is to my interest na makuha siya kaagad. Ba’t ko pa gagawa ng drama ’yan? (If I already knew where he was, it would be in my interest to arrest him immediately. Why would I create drama over it?),” he said.
Remulla said law enforcement agencies have conducted several operations based on intelligence reports, but recent leads have yet to result in Ang’s arrest.
“Nakatatlong raid na kami (We have conducted three raids) in the last two days… all negative,” he said. He added that authorities remain actively pursuing Ang, with more operations planned in the coming days. The interior chief acknowledged the challenges of tracking down a fugitive with substantial financial resources but emphasized that the government’s capabilities far outweigh those of any individual.
“Marami kasi siyang pera eh… pero ang pera niya hindi katumbas ang pera ng buong gobyerno (He has a lot of money… but his money is not equal to the resources of the entire government),” he said. Ang, now considered a fugitive, has yet to resurface following the issuance of multiple arrest warrants against him.
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