MANILA – Police have visited 18 locations over 20 days in search of fugitive businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, but have yet to locate him, authorities said.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, however, expressed confidence that Ang’s options are narrowing, even if the businessman has fled to Cambodia, as claimed by a government witness.

“But his world is getting smaller. Kung nasa Cambodia ‘yan, may extradition tayo, makukuha natin siya,” Remulla said in an interview at Camp Crame on Thursday. He added that the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year will facilitate coordination with Cambodia and Thailand, where Ang is also reportedly hiding.

Ang faces arrest warrants from two courts over his alleged involvement in the disappearance of several individuals connected to his cockfighting operations. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has classified him as a Most Wanted Person and is offering PHP10 million for information leading to his arrest.

Meanwhile, National Police Commission (Napolcom) Vice Chairman Rafael Vicente Calinisan said Ang attempted to interfere in the investigation concerning police officers linked to the case last year.

Calinisan said Ang sent a message through a close friend on July 12, 2025, after government witness Julie Patidongan filed a complaint against the policemen.

“Atong Ang himself made that call to someone very close to me. The question is why did he try to intervene in the case for the policemen? Why does he have an interest in this case that he himself called up a friend very close to me? That call says a lot,” Calinisan said.

He stressed that such attempts raised concerns over undue influence, but emphasized that Napolcom remains impervious to pressure, regardless of wealth or connections.