The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday that fugitive businessman Atong Ang remains in the Philippines based on available government documents and verified Bureau of Immigration (BI) records, despite an earlier claim that he had left the country.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the department has no immigration record confirming Ang’s departure and therefore cannot verify the claim made by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
“I’m not aware kung ano yung intel report or source of information ni Secretary Jonvic. But, from our sources, which we verified with the BI, is wala kaming record, so I cannot confirm that he is already out of the country,” Vida said.
He stressed that the DOJ relies on immigration records in determining whether a person has left the country.
Vida, however, acknowledged that there have been instances in the past when individuals managed to leave the Philippines despite authorities’ efforts, citing the country’s porous borders as a continuing challenge.
The justice chief clarified that the department was not disputing Remulla’s information but was stating what its own verified records indicate.
“What the DOJ is saying is that per our records, per available records which we can verify, evaluate, he is still in the country,” Vida said.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Ang’s whereabouts, Vida said prosecutors would continue presenting relevant evidence in court, stressing that the situation would not derail the case.
“Our prosecutors pursue trying the case to continue to present the relevant pieces of evidence for the court. We see this as challenges but we don’t see this as fatal to the case,” he said.
Vida also urged members of the public with information about Ang’s whereabouts to report it confidentially to the DOJ or trusted law enforcement authorities.
“Any help from the public, they can contribute, they can do it confidentially to the DOJ, to our law enforcement units, to people you trust then we will work on it,” he said.
The DOJ chief reiterated that the department would continue carrying out its mandate and upholding the authority of the courts.
“What we can confirm to the public is we continue fulfilling our mandate, we continue serving the Filipino people kasi at the end of the day, we want order, we want respect for the jurisdiction of the court,” Vida said.
Remulla had earlier said Ang had allegedly left the country through a backdoor route. The DOJ’s latest statement, however, maintains that available immigration records do not confirm his departure.
(News update via RH Tina Nolasco)
