The life and rise of Atong Ang, to many observers, has long been intertwined with the shadowy world of gambling, political patronage, and allegations of corruption.
He reportedly began as a trusted aide and errand man of former San Juan mayor and later president Joseph Estrada, popularly known as Erap. During Estrada’s political ascent—from his years in local government in San Juan to his presidency in 1998—Atong Ang allegedly became deeply embedded in the gambling ecosystem surrounding local political power.
As the story goes, he was entrusted with considerable latitude in gambling operations, particularly in the evolution of traditional jueteng into alternative gaming schemes such as “Bingo 2-Ball,” which critics claimed merely repackaged illegal numbers gambling under a different label. From cultivating local political and gambling connections, he eventually emerged as one of the influential financial operators linked to the national political machinery of the Estrada administration.
For years, he was also associated with gaming ventures in the north, particularly in the Cagayan Freeport zone, where offshore gaming and gambling businesses flourished under a highly specialized regulatory environment. Thereafter, political winds shifted. Relationships with influential figures reportedly expanded, including personalities close to subsequent administrations.
From local connections he ascended as national moneybag of the president, the envy of all gambling lords ranging from Chavit Singson, Bong Pineda, Charing Magbuhos and Bangus Fernandez. He was convicted by the Sandiganbayan and fined ₱25M. He was the Lone Ranger ranged against all the gambling emperors of the country. For 15 years he operated sub rosa in Cagayan Free Port, the enclave of JPE. He befriended Bong Go and pitched in some campaign funds in 2010.
Upon the election of Rody Duterte, he cozied up with the cordon sanitaire of Duterte distributing gambling largesse to the PNP from SPO4 to Provincial Directors. Now these police officers have climbed up the PNP ladder practically all amigos of Atong Ang. He sought the benediction from former DoJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre as Ninong of Jack Lam in taking care of the latter’s high rollers protection while playing in Pasay City’s coterie of casinos. ₱50M changed hands and the minor players acted as handymen resulting in their incarceration for plunder charges notwithstanding the deduction of ₱1000 from the original amount to qualify as ‘non-plunderable’ charges hence availability of right to bail. But they were all rebuffed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio. After less than two years as DoJ Secretary, Aguirre was sacked in April. 2018.
There has to be some computerized ledgers of these PNP officers somewhere. They’re now waiting for retirement ready to cash in from the government they’re sworn to protect. They have to protect Atong Ang or they forfeit their handsome retirement and pension let alone sparing their families from embarrassment. He can’t do the kidnapping and murder by his lonesome. There are rogues who were willing to do his biddings to kill and kidnap after all their targets are cheaters out to sabotage his eSabong.
His hunch is that his rivals financed the teope operations that bled millions for Atong. Now that he is a fugitive, it’s logical that he is hiding in plain sight perhaps having a good time in Camp Crame, Camp Nakar, Camp Vicente Lim or similar police camps in the country. These camps are proximate to NCR where his innamoratas are a stone’s throw away. A billion pesos can buy freedom for Atong Ang.
Atong Ang fused gambling money, political patronage, and law enforcement protection and created a network of mutual dependence—where gambling operators supplied resources and political access while certain protectors ensured operational continuity. Anecdotal evidence transformed Atong Ang as some form of a legend approximating Al Caponè.
His protectors from the PNP hierarchy shield him from the braggadocio of the DILG Secretary that his arrest is ‘forthcoming’.