Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced that Interpol has issued red notices against former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and former police officer Rafael Dumlao III. The notices follow one issued last month against gaming tycoon Charlie Atong Ang in connection with the disappearance of cockfight enthusiasts.
Remulla made the disclosure during a congressional hearing. He stated that red notices are now active for Bantag, Ang and Dumlao. A separate request for Zaldy Co remains pending after being filed in September 2025.
Remulla expressed frustration with the Philippine National Police for failing to arrest the fugitives despite having 200,000 officers. He reprimanded officials in a command conference and urged them to use their full manpower to locate the three men.
Bantag faces an arrest order from 2023 linked to the death of a middleman in the 2022 killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid. Dumlao was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2024 for a 2016 kidnapping and killing. Authorities have offered a 1 million peso bounty for Dumlao.