Extradition of Ang, Ricaforte assured

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Robert Mueller III said the US government is ready to extradite to the Philippines Charlie "Atong" Ang and Yolanda Ricaforte, two of ousted President Joseph Estrada’s co-accused in his plunder case at the Sandiganbayan.

Speaking to reporters at the US Embassy’s Seafront Restaurant in Pasay City yesterday, Mueller said Ang and Ricaforte must be returned to the country to face the charges filed against them in court.

"We assure (Ang and Ricaforte) will be rendered back to the Philippines," he said. "Those who break the law should be brought to justice swiftly."

Ang and Ricaforte fled to the United States one after the other following the overthrow of Estrada in a military-backed uprising on Jan. 20 last year.

Ang is jailed in a federal detention center in Nevada after being arrested in a casino in Las Vegas last December, while Ricaforte remains at large in the US, her whereabouts unknown.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Hernando Perez has sent seven justice department officials to the US to attend a four-day (March 18 to 22), FBI-sponsored seminar on the effects of global terrorism.

The seven are Undersecretary Jose Calida, Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Severino Gaña Jr., and Prosecutors Emmanuel Velasco, Francisco Beron, Antonio Arellano, and Cesar Tajanlangit.

Mueller said he also discussed in separate meetings with President Arroyo and justice department officials the extradition case of sixth district Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez.

"We sought (Jimenez’s extradition) expeditiously back to the US to face charges," he said.

The US government is seeking the extradition of Jimenez who is facing charges of tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions and other crimes in US federal courts.

Before his election, Jimenez had been fighting in court for the past three years to prevent the government from extraditing him to the US.

Mueller said justice department officials assured him that being congressman has not granted Jimenez immunity from prosecution.

"We raised it with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which is our desire under the legal procedures in the Philippines to have him extradited expeditiously," he said.

On terrorist threats, Mrs. Arroyo assured Mueller that suspected international terrorists are under tight watch to prevent them from entering the Philippines.

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said Mrs. Arroyo calmed the fears of Mueller during a luncheon meeting yesterday at Malacañang with US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone and other Philippine and American officials.

Upon arriving in the country Sunday, Mueller warned that al-Qaeda fighters fleeing US forces in Afghanistan could seek refuge in Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines.

Golez said the arrest Friday of eight suspected terrorists at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City shows how tight authorities have been watching the country’s different ports of entry.

"The Philippines is one of the countries (al-Qaeda fighters) might try to enter, that is why (Mueller) is here to seek cooperation and to help strengthen vigilance against these people," he said.

Golez said Mueller also recommended additional training in the "interdiction of funds of terrorism" as well as intelligence sharing.

His talks with the FBI director also covered the need for tighter implementation of the anti-money laundering law, Golez added.

Mueller said Congress must speed up passage of an anti-terrorism law to help the worldwide effort to stop terrorism.

"We also in the United States struggle as you do in passing an anti-terrorism statute that would enable the government to identify those who are indeed true terrorists, those who kill women and children and detain them," he said.

"And I understand that such legislation may be moving forward in the Philippines and to the extent we could help with our experience, we will endeavor to do so and look forward to the passage of that legislation."

Mueller said the enactment of an anti-terrorism law would make it easier for the Philippines to fight terrorists in cooperation with other countries.

"If I make one point, the passage of that legislation is not just to help the Philippines but also help us around the world to work cooperatively to address terrorism," he said.

In recent weeks, police have detained at least four Indonesians for questioning on possible links to Osama bin Laden, the principal suspect in last year’s Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the United States.

One of them, Fathur Rohman al Ghozi, told police he belongs to Jemaah Islamiah, a secret group suspected to be linked with Bin Laden.

Last week, three other Indonesians were arrested at NAIA while about to leave the country. They are Agus Dwikarno, Tamsil Linrung and Abdul Jamal Baifas.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza said yesterday the three will be charged in court with violating immigration laws.

Terrorists trained in Pakistan and Afghanistan could have made contact with Islamic organizations in the country, Mendoza added.–With reports from Delon Porcalla, Marichu Villanueva, Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero, Mike Frialde, AFP