Charlie Tiu Hay Sy Ang, better known as Atong Ang, is a Filipino gambling operator and businessman with an estimated net worth of $100 million. He first rose to national prominence in 2001 when he became embroiled in the impeachment trial of then-President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, where he was named a co-accused and briefly jailed.
| Atong Ang Net Worth | $100 Million |
| Date of Birth | August 29, 1957 |
| Nationality | Filipino |
Early Life
Atong Ang was born on August 29, 1957, to Catalina Ang. He grew up in the Philippines before later finding himself thrust into the spotlight during one of the most controversial political scandals in the country’s history. He is not related to businessman Ramon Ang, despite public speculation.
Involvement in the Estrada Impeachment
According to reports, Ang played a key role in the fallout between Estrada and Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson. Estrada allegedly allowed Ang to operate jueteng, an illegal numbers game, which threatened Singson’s gambling interests. This rivalry escalated after a failed assassination attempt on Singson, eventually leading to Estrada’s impeachment.
Singson accused Estrada and Ang of pocketing ₱130 million from tobacco excise taxes. Ang later admitted in a plea bargain to diverting the funds and returning ₱25 million he earned as commission. After serving probation, his civil rights were restored in 2009.
Exile and Legal Battles
Following Estrada’s ouster, Ang fled to the United States, where he was later arrested in Las Vegas for gambling. He posted a $300,000 bail, claiming political persecution, before being extradited back to the Philippines in 2006.
His plea bargain allowed him to avoid a lengthy prison term, and in 2009 the Sandiganbayan declared his probation terminated, officially restoring his rights as a free man.
Atong Ang Businesses
Ang has since reinvented himself as a consultant and businessman in the legal gambling sector. He has worked with Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation (MVGC), which operates jai alai in the Cagayan Freeport Zone, and with Lucky Tytanium Corporation, a lottery operator in Cavite.
He has also invested heavily in cockfighting, co-founding the Ultimate Fighting Cock Championship (UFCC), an organization that promotes cockfighting competitions both locally and internationally. Ang has branded himself not as an operator of illegal gambling but as a “legal gambling lord.”
“Ever since the start, I’ve never been involved with illegal gambling,” Ang once said.
Political Connections and Controversies
In 2017, Ang resurfaced in the headlines after accusing Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon of plotting to kill him to control gambling operations. The matter later subsided after Ang expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte himself confirmed in a 2018 speech that he asked Ang to help the government fight illegal gambling. Referring to Ang as the “number one gambler,” Duterte said: “I called him up. I said, ‘Atong, you control everything. Let’s be frank. Go to PCSO, stop illegal operations, and help the government.’”
Atong Ang Net Worth
Today, Atong Ang’s fortune is tied to his gambling-related ventures, particularly jai alai and cockfighting. His net worth is estimated at $100 million, making him one of the most prominent figures in the Philippines’ gaming and gambling industry.
