Cambodia Denies Philippine Fugitive Charlie “Atong Ang” Is in the Country

Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has firmly denied reports that Philippine fugitive Charlie Tiu Hay Ang, widely known as Atong Ang, is hiding in Cambodia, saying there is no evidence he has entered or exited the country.

In a statement issued by the ministry’s spokesperson, officials cited data from the Immigration General Department under the Ministry of Interior, confirming that there is no record of Charlie Tiu Hay Ang passing through any Cambodian border checkpoint.

“The Immigration General Department has verified that there is no record of his entry into or departure from the Kingdom of Cambodia,” the spokesperson said, adding that the clarification was intended to dispel speculation circulating in regional media.

Response to Media Reports

The statement follows recent reports suggesting that Ang may have fled to Cambodia, prompting Philippine authorities to reportedly dispatch a team of police officers to search for him abroad. Cambodian officials said the claims were unfounded and not supported by official immigration data.

Authorities emphasized that Cambodia maintains systematic border records and cooperates with regional partners in matters related to transnational crime, particularly when credible information is shared through official channels.

The Foreign Ministry did not indicate that it had received a formal request from Philippine authorities related to Ang’s presence in Cambodia at the time of the statement.

Who Is Charlie “Atong Ang”?

Charlie Tiu Hay Sy Ang, born on August 29, 1957, is a Filipino businessman and gambling magnate who has long been associated with the country’s underground jueteng numbers game and the cockfighting industry. Over the past two decades, his name has repeatedly surfaced in some of the Philippines’ most high-profile political and criminal cases.

Ang first rose to national prominence in 2000 when he became a co-accused in the impeachment trial of then-President Joseph Estrada. In April 2001, Philippine courts issued a warrant for his arrest on plunder charges in connection with the case.

Following the collapse of the Estrada administration during the EDSA II uprising, Ang fled the Philippines. He was later arrested by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation on November 25, 2001, after the Philippine government sought his extradition.

Arrest, Conviction, and Release

After his arrest in the United States, Ang was detained for several years while extradition proceedings played out. He was eventually extradited to the Philippines in November 2006, nearly five years after his arrest.

In 2007, Ang pleaded guilty to indirect bribery. He was sentenced and served two years in prison before being released in May 2009. After his release, he largely stayed out of the political spotlight, although his business interests in gambling-related activities remained a subject of public attention.

New Allegations and Arrest Warrant

Ang returned to the center of controversy in 2025 when a former security aide accused him of orchestrating the disappearance of more than 100 cockfighting enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022. The alleged victims were reportedly linked to the illegal cockfighting industry, a lucrative underground operation in the Philippines.

Ang has publicly denied the allegations, calling them baseless. However, Philippine authorities continued their investigation, and in 2026 an arrest warrant was issued against him on charges of kidnapping and homicide related to the disappearances.

As of 2026, Ang is considered a fugitive by Philippine law enforcement, with authorities intensifying efforts to locate and arrest him.

Cambodia’s Position

Cambodian officials stressed that the country does not harbor fugitives and that immigration data clearly shows Ang is not present within its borders. The Foreign Ministry’s statement sought to reassure both the public and international partners that Cambodia remains committed to transparency and cooperation in criminal matters.

The clarification comes amid heightened regional scrutiny of cross-border crime and fugitive movements in Southeast Asia, where suspects often attempt to evade arrest by moving between countries.

For now, Cambodian authorities say there is no evidence linking the country to Ang’s whereabouts, pushing back against speculation while Philippine investigators continue their search elsewhere.

The case remains closely watched in the Philippines, where the disappearances have drawn public outrage and renewed calls for accountability within the illegal gambling industry.