Photo courtesy of Avito Dalan/Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday said authorities were still pursuing gambling figure Atong Ang after a recent attempt to arrest him fell through.
Remulla said law enforcers had received a credible tip that led to a possible sighting, prompting an operation in which he personally took part.
He said there had been direct visual confirmation of the suspect, but the operation did not result in an arrest.
Despite this, Remulla said the search remained active and ongoing.
He declined to reveal the exact location of the reported sighting, saying only that the information placed Ang somewhere in the Philippines.
The Interior chief also withheld details about the source of the information, noting that it came from a reliable informant.
He added that authorities were also looking into reports that Ang may have left the country and could be in Vietnam.
Ang is facing kidnapping charges linked to the alleged abduction and killing of dozens of cockfighting enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022, with several of his co-accused already under government custody.