APRIL 16, 2026 — An Interpol red notice is now out for fugitive tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, but despite the international alert, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed Ang is still hiding in the Philippines, moving around Calabarzon with a small group to evade capture.

An Interpol red notice is essentially a global request for law enforcement agencies to locate and provisionally arrest a suspect pending extradition or similar legal action. It is not an arrest warrant, but it signals that Ang’s case has reached international urgency. According to Remulla, the notice was issued earlier this week, and Ang was spotted in Region IV-A (Calabarzon) just two weeks ago. 

“Nakita siya,” Remulla said in an interview. 

(He was seen.)

Authorities have been chasing Ang since early 2024, when arrest warrants were issued against him for kidnapping with homicide, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention in connection with the 2021 disappearance of the missing sabungeros. The government even placed a ₱20-million bounty on his head. 

Despite rumors of him fleeing to Vietnam or Cambodia, Remulla insists Ang remains in the country, constantly shifting hideouts every three to five days.

This saga is about justice for the families of the missing sabungeros, who have waited years for answers. It’s about whether our law enforcement can actually corner a fugitive who seems to be playing hide-and-seek with the state. And it’s about the credibility of our justice system. 

If a red notice backed by Interpol still can’t pin him down, what does that say about our ability to enforce the law at home?

This case hits close to home because it touches on illegal gambling, corruption, and impunity — issues that have long plagued the country. Ang’s notoriety in the gaming industry makes this more than a criminal case. It’s a test of whether power and money can shield someone from accountability.

The families of the sabungeros deserve justice. And the nation deserves proof that no one, no matter how wealthy or connected, is above the law.

Do you think justice will ever really catch up with Atong Ang?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)