Two F-5 jets to stop Estrada flight

If former President Joseph Estrada is planning to escape, he’d better forget about taking to the skies.

Philippine Air Force (PAF) officials said yesterday at least two F-5 fighter planes are on 24-hour standby to intercept any aircraft that may attempt to sneak the deposed leader out of the country.

PAF spokesman Col. Lino Horacio Lapi-nid presented three scenarios to deal with an aircraft that has Estrada on board.

"First, the fighter jets would scramble, intercept the target and order the pilot of the private aircraft to land," he said.

If the order is ignored, the second option would be to force the plane to land by edging close to the target, similar to the maneuvers recently performed by a Chinese fighter plane on a US spy plane.

And if that doesn’t work?

"If worst comes to worst, the fighter pilots are instructed to shoot down the target," Lapinid said.

He said the F-5 squadron of the 5th Fighter Wing, which is based at the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga has standing instructions on how to react in all possible situations.

PAF and airport authorities are currently reviewing and strengthening security measures to prevent Estrada from leaving the country following the latest developments in the plunder and corruption case against the fallen leader.

Government agencies given the task of monitoring the movements of Estrada claimed there is a strong possibility that the former president would attempt to flee to another country after the Sandiganbayan issued warrants for his arrest the other day.

Lapinid pointed out that the PAF is relying heavily on the Air Transportation Office and the Manila Control Tower to relay to them through a "hot line" any information about a possible flight carrying Estrada.

"Time is of the essence in accomplishing our objectives," he said. "A 30-minute delay in the transmission of information on an escape would negate all interception efforts, especially if the target is a Falcon DA-10 or a Lear jet."

Meanwhile, Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo issued for the second time a hold-departure order against Estrada and seven of his relatives and associates based on orders of the Sandiganbayan’s first division.

Included in latest travel ban are former First Lady Luisa Ejercito, San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office head Jose Jaime Policarpio, gambling consultant Charlie "Atong" Ang, Eleuterio Tan, Alma Alfaro and Delia Rajas.

The Sandiganbayan order stemmed from a graft case filed by the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged diversion of P130 million in tobacco excise taxes intended for Ilocos Sur.

Domingo said all immigration personnel at all the international airports have been alerted and given instructions to prevent Estrada and company from leaving the country.

She said 40 Marines assigned to the Bureau of Immigration have also been deployed to the provincial airports and seaports to augment bureau personnel.