Philippines seeks Interpol Red Notice for Charlie Ang
The Philippines is looking for an Interpol Red Notice to arrest businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang (as depicted in the featured image), who is wanted in connection with the disappearance of at least 34 cockfighting enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022.
Ang, 68, whose full name is Charlie Tiu Hay Sy Ang, faces multiple arrest warrants issued by regional trial courts on charges including kidnapping, serious illegal detention and kidnapping with homicide. Prosecutors allege the victims were linked to disputes surrounding e-sabong — online betting on cockfights streamed to remote gamblers.
E-sabong surged in popularity during the pandemic, filling the void left by shuttered cockpits and gambling venues across the country. The industry pulled in substantial revenue during this period, but it wasn’t without controversy; operators faced accusations of withholding winnings from bettors, rigging matches, and ties to organised crime. The situation took a darker turn when dozens of sabungeros were reported missing under murky circumstances, prompting widespread public outcry and ultimately pushing the government to pull the plug on licensed online cockfighting operations.
Police have since sought an Interpol Red Notice for Ang. The application was filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group through Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Manila. A Red Notice requests member countries to locate and provisionally detain a suspect pending possible extradition. CIDG Director Maj Gen Robert Alexander Morico II announced the move in January 2026, stating that it was intended to prevent Ang from leaving the country or evading arrest through unofficial channels.
Running as a fugitive?
There have been rumours that Ang travelled to Cambodia, but Cambodian officials state he is not within their jurisdiction. The Department of the Interior and Local Government reports that intelligence assessments suggest he remains in the Philippines.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has warned that Ang should be considered armed and dangerous, urging the public to exercise caution. In a sign of how seriously the authorities are treating the case, the government has doubled the reward for information leading to his arrest to 20 million pesos (around $379,620). So far, 20 other accused individuals — including both active-duty and former police officers — have been taken into custody. Ang is now the only main suspect still absconding.
His name is not new to national controversy. In 2000, during the corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of former President Joseph Estrada, Ang was implicated in allegations that gambling proceeds were funnelled to Estrada. The former president was later removed from office following a Senate trial and mass protests. Earlier this year, Ang was called to testify before the Philippine Senate in hearings examining the disappearance of the sabungeros. Around the same period, courts issued warrants for his arrest.
Ang was also publicly mentioned by former President Rodrigo Duterte, who acknowledged contacting him in the past regarding illegal gambling in Davao City. Duterte said he had sought his assistance in addressing unlawful operations, though Ang did not hold any formal government position.
Seeking more Interpol aid
In a separate investigation, authorities are pursuing Cassandra Li Ong, a businesswoman associated with a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGOs) in Pampanga, who faces human trafficking charges. While unrelated to the sabungero disappearances, that case forms part of wider enforcement actions targeting illegal gambling networks.
Police say the search for Ang continues. While the cases are distinct, officials say they form part of a broader campaign to dismantle unlawful gambling syndicates and address criminal activity linked to the sector.
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