Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said fugitive gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang may have converted an estimated $3 billion into cryptocurrency after leaving the country through an unauthorized backdoor route. According to authorities, the suspected move into digital assets could make Ang’s finances much harder to monitor than if the funds were kept in conventional bank accounts.
Remulla said the suspected crypto holdings do not by themselves prove bribery or illicit payouts. However, he said the use of liquid digital assets would complicate efforts to trace financial movements while Ang is believed to be operating somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Alleged escape outside formal border controls
Authorities said Ang did not depart through official international ports, but instead reportedly left Philippine territory using a backdoor channel that allowed him to avoid immigration watchlists and regular border enforcement.
Officials did not disclose his exact transit route. The details were withheld because an active manhunt is under way involving the Philippine National Police and regional intelligence partners.
Warrants tied to missing cockfight participants
Ang is the subject of multiple warrants issued in January by regional trial courts in Laguna and Batangas. The cases involve allegations of kidnapping, serious illegal detention and homicide.
The charges stem from the disappearance and suspected killings of at least 34 cockfight participants between 2021 and 2022. The long-running case has drawn significant public attention in the Philippines because of both the number of missing victims and the alleged involvement of organized actors.
Justice department indictment and denials
The Department of Justice indicted Ang and 21 other individuals on December 9. Those charged include 15 police officers, following whistleblower testimony that described abductions, executions and the disposal of victims in Taal Lake.
Ang has denied involvement in the disappearances. The reported conversion of large cash reserves into cryptocurrency remains an official suspicion rather than a proven finding, and authorities have not publicly released transaction records in the information provided.
Search efforts continue
Philippine authorities are continuing their pursuit of Ang as coordination with domestic and regional partners remains active. The government is offering a 20 million peso bounty for verified intelligence that leads to his capture.
For now, the next confirmed development is the continuing joint search and the standing reward offer, while officials try to establish both Ang’s location and whether the suspected transfer of funds into crypto can be traced.
Source: bitpinas.com