Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities decided not to seek the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) assistance in the manhunt for gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang due to possible connections between some agents and the fugitive businessman.

In an ambush interview at Camp Crame, Remulla said there is a lingering possibility that some NBI agents and even police personnel may have ties to Ang, noting that the tycoon had previously deputized NBI agents as bodyguards. He added that the Department of Justice (DOJ) advised against involving the NBI in serving Ang’s arrest warrant, citing vulnerabilities within the agency.

Remulla also revealed that authorities spoke with a retired Philippine National Police (PNP) general reportedly close to Ang but stressed that the tycoon is not under the retired officer’s protection.

Authorities have so far conducted six raids on Ang’s properties, all of which yielded negative results. Of the 22 individuals ordered arrested by courts in Laguna and Batangas in connection with the kidnapping with homicide case, 21 have already been apprehended by the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, with Ang remaining the only fugitive.