By Joyce Pangco Pa?ares

The Philippines has sought the help of the International Police in the manhunt for a suspected drug smuggler who managed to slip out of the country, Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. said yesterday.

After receiving intelligence reports that certain officials ?coddled? and aided Anthony Ang in escaping to China, President Arroyo also ordered law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident, warning that ?heads will roll? if the alleged collusion is proved.

Mrs. Arroyo gave the National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency a week to look into the escape of Ang who smuggled some 700 kilograms of shabu, worth P5 billion in its pure form, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said.

The President was informed that at least P50 million changed hands for Ang?s escape, Remonde said. ?She has received intelligence reports that some officials coddled him so she ordered this investigation.?

The President has also ordered the Foreign Affairs Department to coordinate with Chinese authorities amid reports that Ang brought his family, including his daughter who heads the Sangguniang Kabataan in Olongapo, to China, according to Remonde.

Villar, head of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, said Ang owns Wah Lung International Inc., a trading company that has been operating in the Subic Bay free port since 2007.

?He is known as a legitimate locator in Subic. He even has a restaurant there before. SBMA officials know him,? Villar said.

Ang was apprehended in May last year over a suspicious cargo in the Subic free port but officials let him go, Villar said.

He said Ang was even allowed by SBMA officials to visit the impounded shipment.

?He told the SBMA that the shipments contained parts for laptops so they could not be opened. But when we arrived, we found 100 kilos of 99-percent high-grade shabu inside,? Villar said.

?We went to his warehouse where we found hundreds of kilos more of shabu, and we also recovered shabu packs concealed in waterproof bags with the help of Navy frog men,? the anti-smuggling chief added.

Villar said Ang disappeared from Olongapo a week after the operation with his family in tow, and PASG received several reports that the Angs first went to Ilocos and then to Central Luzon.

?There were three vessels consigned to him that entered SBMA. One escaped the country while two vessels are under our custody. We have checked with Interpol and we learned that the ship captain and his crew are all wanted in Taiwan,? Villar said.

Mrs. Arroyo, the country?s anti-drug czar, was deeply bothered that Ang was able to elude arrest and escape to China despite a standing arrest warrant and a hold departure order against him.

?The President has issued a very stern warning that heads of government officials involved in the escape of Ang and all others found involved in illegal drugs will roll without mercy,? Remonde said.