The investigation into gaming tycoon Atong Ang has been temporarily delayed because PCSO Chairman Felix Reyes has not yet given sufficient permission to obtain his travel records. According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), written consent from Reyes is required to release details of his trips outside the country, in accordance with the Philippine data privacy law.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Reyes' public statement was insufficient. “His statement is not clear and precise. It needs to be written and specific,” Sandoval said in an interview with True FM.
Reyes is being linked to case-fixing in connection with the disappearance of the sabangeros, where he is said to have colluded with Ang, prosecutors, and judges. Reyes denied the accusation and challenged Julie “Dondon” Patidongan—who made the allegation—to present evidence. According to Reyes, she is open to showing all her trips since she retired as a judge in 2021.
According to the BI, they can only release Reyes' travel data to authorized agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). They will send a letter to Reyes to clarify what details of his trip he wants to release.
The Supreme Court and DOJ continue their investigation into the case of the missing sabangero. An initial search operation has also been authorized in Talisay, Batangas, one of the areas believed to have been dumped by the victims. It can be recalled that Ang was previously involved in issues with the PCSO in 2017 and 2018, but he denied having an official position in the agency.
