MANILA— Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the Department of Justice (DOJ) could not confirm reports that businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, the alleged mastermind in the disappearance of several cockfighting enthusiasts, had left the country, citing the absence of a departure record from the Bureau of Immigration.

“So I cannot confirm that he is already of out the country kasi we will rely based on what we have on immigration records. And based on immigration records, wala kaming record that he left,” Vida said in an ambush interview.

His statement came after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla claimed that Ang had left the Philippines through the “backdoor,” or unofficial routes. Remulla had also said Ang was last seen in Cambodia.

Vida said he was not privy to the source of Remulla’s information but acknowledged that the country’s geography and porous borders could allow fugitives to leave without being detected through official channels.

“Very porous kasi talaga iyong borders natin and as the statement of your Secretary of Justice, per records of the department he is still in the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Malacañang called for an investigation into possible lapses in law enforcement following Remulla’s claim that Ang had escaped through an unofficial route.

Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said authorities must first establish whether negligence occurred before determining who should be held accountable.

“Hindi natin masasabi na mayroon agad culprit, mayroon agad nagpabaya. So, hayaan na natin muna kung papaano ito iimbestigahan para malaman natin kung sino ba talaga ang may pagkukulang,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.

She also called attention to the need to strengthen border security, particularly along the country’s maritime routes.

“Noon pa dapat,” Castro said when asked whether border security should be recalibrated.

“Hindi nakakatuwa na may nakakaalpas na pugante na dapat na managot,” she added.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Ang’s whereabouts, Vida assured the public that prosecutors would continue pursuing the cases against the businessman.

“Because of the nature nung case, these are murder cases, no, we pursue our mandate. Our prosecutors pursue trying the case. We continue to present the relevant pieces of evidence that we can before the court,” Vida said.

“Although we see these as challenges, we don’t see this as fatal to the case. We still continue with the prosecution of the case,” he added.

Ang faces charges of kidnapping with homicide, as well as kidnapping and serious illegal detention, before courts in Sta. Cruz, Laguna; Lipa, Batangas; and San Pablo, Laguna, in connection with the disappearance of several sabungeros from 2021 to 2022.

Castro also assured the public that the cases would not prescribe simply because an accused remained at large, adding that the administration would continue efforts to pursue fugitives and hold those responsible accountable.