No request yet for Atong’s extradition

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has yet to receive a request from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the extradition of suspected gambling lord Charlie "Atong" Ang and Yolanda Ricaforte, former close associates of deposed President Joseph Estrada.

The two have been linked to the fallen leader’s plunder case.

Vice President Teofisto Guingona, who serves as DFA secretary in a concurrent capacity, said it is the DOJ which should determine if the testimonies of Ang and Ricaforte are integral to Estrada’s case.

"That’s up to the DOJ to determine if they feel they can secure a conviction even without the testimonies of these two," he said.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. revealed early this week that Ang is now helping set up a mall in Los Angeles, California with a nephew.

Pimentel said he met with Ang last month during his visit to California and Ang admitted to him that he has applied for an investor’s visa in the United States and would fight any attempt by the Philippine government to extradite him.

Ang said he would use "human rights" as a defense for his continued stay in the US.

The DFA has not canceled the passports of Ang and Ricaforte as well as those of Jaime Dichaves and Dante Tan who were also implicated in the case against Estrada.

However, Guingona said he believes the Philippines would succeed should it decide to request for Ang’s extradition even if the latter secures a US investor’s visa.

"The extradition law will prevail because it doesn’t say that if you put up a mall you’ll not be extradited anymore," he said. – Pia Lee- Brago