Malacañang called for an investigation into possible lapses that may have allowed fugitive Atong Ang to leave the Philippines amid cases linked to the disappearance of cockfighting enthusiasts.
The call came after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday, Oct. 20, that Ang had reportedly left the country through a “backdoor” route. Ang is believed to be in Cambodia.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), however, said Wednesday that Ang remained in the Philippines based on available government documents and verified Bureau of Immigration (BI) records.
“Sa ngayon ay dapat malaman natin, maimbestigahan kung talagang may lapses,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary said during a press briefing on Oct. 21.
Castro said this was not the first time Ang had allegedly evaded authorities after facing charges.
“May mga tao talaga na mabibilis tumakbo, hindi naman ito ang unang pagkakataon na tumakas itong si Atong Ang noong unang nakasuhan din ito nakaalpas din ito agad-agad,” she said.
She said authorities must balance an individual’s freedom of movement with their responsibility to enforce the law, explaining that a pending case does not automatically prevent a person from traveling abroad.
Without an arrest warrant or a court-issued hold departure order, she said, authorities cannot simply stop someone from leaving the country, Castro noted.
“So, binabalanse ang karapatan ng bawat tao, binabalanse rin ang obligasyon at responsibilidad ng bawat opisyal,“ she said.
Castro declined to disclose possible operations by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other law enforcement agencies.
“Kung ano man ang operasyon na isasagawa ng DILG at iba natin mga law enforcers, ito ay isang operasyon na hindi ko maisisiwalat sa publiko,” she said.
She also called for tighter monitoring of possible exit routes, noting that the country’s geography could allow people to leave through unofficial channels without being detected.
“Ang Pilipinas kasi tayo ay napapaligiran ng dagat, maaaring makaalpas ng hindi napapansin sa backdoor. So dapat mas maigting na pagbabantay at yung iba nating mga kababayan na rin na mga nakikipagsabwatan sa ganitong kayo rin po ay makakatulong sa gobyerno, huwag po kayong makipagsabwatan sa mga tao na alam natin ay gumagawa ng krimen,” she stressed.
Castro urged the public to help authorities and refrain from assisting people involved in criminal activity.
She said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wanted swift action against fugitives who evade accountability.
“Hindi nakakatuwa na may nakakaalpas na pugante na dapat na managot. Hindi ito pwedeng matulugan mabilisang aksyon dapat dito, ‘yan ang nais ng Pangulo,” she said.
