Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday warned friends and associates of fugitive businessman Charlie 'Atong' Ang against providing him shelter or assistance, stating they could face criminal charges.

According to Philippines News Agency, police tracker and intelligence teams have expanded monitoring to include backdoor exits to prevent Ang, who is implicated in the kidnapping and disappearance of more than a dozen cockfight enthusiasts, from fleeing the country. In a statement, acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. expressed concerns that Ang might leverage his wealth and connections to evade arrest.

Nartatez emphasized, "We expect him to use his huge reserve of resources to avoid being caught. But I advise him to use that (resources) instead to defend himself in court rather than playing hide and seek with us because he will be arrested eventually."

The PNP is actively coordinating with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to broaden the manhunt if Ang has already exited the country. Approximately 320,000 police personnel have been deployed nationwide to locate Ang, whom the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has deemed the "most wanted criminal in the country."

The PNP has also revoked Ang's gun permits following the issuance of an arrest warrant, and a PHP10-million reward is being offered for information leading to his capture. Nartatez further cautioned against providing false information that could hinder the ongoing manhunt operations, urging collaboration to ensure Ang faces the serious accusations in court.