The Manila Times
(UPDATE) THE International Criminal Police Organization has issued Red Notices against three high-profile fugitives — businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag, and former police lieutenant colonel Rafael Dumlao III — the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Monday. At a press briefing in Valenzuela City, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the three remained at large despite an extensive nationwide manhunt involving more than 200,000 police personnel. “For the information of the body, there is a Red Notice against Bantag, there is a Red Notice against Atong Ang, there is a Red Notice against Dumlao,” Remulla said. Interpol defines a Red Notice as a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. Member countries, however, apply their own laws in determining whether to detain a subject. Remulla said the challenge in tracking the fugitives stemmed from the Philippines’ geography and the financial resources available to the suspects. “Number one, we have 7,000 islands. Number two, we have a porous border down south. Number three, the people we are looking for have a lot of money and many ways,” he said. The DILG chief said the authorities had nearly apprehended Ang at one point. With the Red Notice, Remulla said, Ang will be automatically deported from anywhere in the world once he is arrested. Ang has been implicated as the alleged mastermind in the disappearance of several sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts, and is facing charges of kidnapping with serious illegal detention in connection with the case. Bantag has been accused of killing broadcaster Percy Lapid in October 2022 and inmate Jun Villamor, who was tagged as the alleged middleman in the case. In April 2023, a Muntinlupa court ordered Bantag’s arrest over Villamor’s death. Bantag has denied the allegations against him. The Department of Justice earlier offered a P2-million reward for information leading to his arrest. Authorities previously said Bantag was believed to be hiding in the Cordillera Administrative Region. Dumlao, on the other hand, was tagged as the alleged mastermind in the 2016 kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo inside the Philippine National Police headquarters. In July 2024, the Court of Appeals reversed Dumlao’s acquittal in the case and instead sentenced him to reclusion perpetua. He has since gone into hiding. A P1-million reward has also been offered for information leading to his arrest. Remulla said that the government remained committed to pursuing the suspects and ensuring accountability in high-profile criminal cases.
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