MANILA— Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday confirmed that businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, the alleged mastermind in the disappearance of several cockfighting enthusiasts, has left the country and was last seen in Cambodia.

“Backdoor siya dumaan,” Remulla said during a press briefing, referring to Ang’s alleged route out of the Philippines.

In an interview with ANC, Remulla said authorities were confident Ang was in Cambodia but declined to discuss how he managed to leave the country despite an ongoing manhunt.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies are pursuing Ang, who is facing charges of kidnapping with homicide, as well as kidnapping and serious illegal detention, before courts in Laguna and Batangas.

Ang has not been seen since January 2026. In July, the PNP said it was still verifying reports that he had fled the country.

Remulla also claimed that Ang may have converted $3 billion into cryptocurrency.

“With that kind of money, you can pay people,” Remulla said.

Meanwhile, Remulla said authorities know the whereabouts of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa but are cautious about conducting a forcible arrest, warning that such an operation could lead to bloodshed similar to the 2017 Marawi City siege.

According to Remulla, Dela Rosa is not in Davao City but in another location in Mindanao, where he is secluded and heavily protected by what the secretary described as a powerful armed group.

Remulla declined to identify the group.

“They have a lot of armed men. They are a powerful group that we have to negotiate,” he said.

Dela Rosa is subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity linked to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.