The Cambodian government on Saturday officially denied reports that fugitive Filipino businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang is hiding within its borders, stating there are no official records of his entry into the country.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Cambodian authorities clarified that a review of immigration data showed no trace of the gaming tycoon.
“According to an official report from the Immigration General Department of the Ministry of the Interior of Cambodia, there is no record of Charlie Tiu Hay Ang’s entry or exit at any Cambodian border checkpoints,” the Ministry said.
The clarification follows recent claims from the Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) suggesting that Ang may have fled to Cambodia or Thailand to evade arrest.
Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla responded to the Cambodian statement on Saturday, saying the Philippine government would respect their findings.
“We will have to take their word for it,” Remulla said in a message to reporters. He noted that the initial lead regarding Cambodia came from Julie Patindongan, a key witness in the investigation into the disappearance of dozens of cockfight enthusiasts, or sabungeros.
Despite the denial from Phnom Penh, Remulla emphasized that the manhunt for Ang remains in full swing. “All elements of the PNP [Philippine National Police] are actively searching for him,” he added.
Ang is currently the subject of multiple arrest warrants related to the 2021–2022 disappearance of more than 30 individuals linked to his cockfighting operations.
While Philippine authorities previously speculated that Ang may have used “backdoor” routes to exit the country, they now maintain that he could still be hiding within the Philippines.
A P10 million reward remains in effect for any information leading to his capture.