Jimenez flies to LA, Miami today

Beleaguered Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez is all set to leave today on a Philippine Airlines flight for the United States to face a string of criminal charges there.

His first stop is Los Angeles, and then it’s on to Miami. But there is one possible hitch.

Bulacan Rep. Willie Buyson Villarama, who will accompany his friend, said National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco has informed them that they should take a US carrier for their flight.

"He claims that this is what the RP-US extradition treaty provides," Villarama told reporters. "But we have already booked ourselves on a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight for Los Angeles and a connecting American Airlines flight to Miami, Florida."

Villarama said they booked a PAL flight because all flights by US carrier Northwest were fully booked this Christmas season. Nevertheless, they would make inquires with other US carriers, he said.

Their itinerary, so far: Leave Manila at 10 tonight on PAL Flight 102; arrive Los Angeles at 6:40 p.m. US time; leave for Florida on American Airlines Flight 234 at 9:45 p.m. and arrive in Miami at 5:28 a.m.

Ricardo Diaz, head of the NBI-Interpol division, which is handling Jimenez’s extradition, said the Manila lawmaker has to take a US carrier flight because that is what US authorities want.

In the past, fugitives from US justice were flown to the United States on American carriers.

Villarama suspected that the NBI was trying to delay Jimenez’s departure. "They have been itching to jail him. In fact, (Justice Secretary Hernando) Perez has been showing to the media the detention cell that the NBI has been preparing for him," he said.

"I will insist on leaving, come hell or high water. I want to fulfill my commitment with the court, the US Embassy and with Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., who is my custodian," Jimenez told The STAR. "Does Wycoco want to prevent me from doing that?"

Wycoco said yesterday Jimenez would be "arrested and extradited immediately" if he disobeys a court order and does not leave today.

"He must leave and it is the duty of the NBI to turn him over to authorities of the United States," he said.

There is still a possibility that Jimenez may fly to the US onboard a US carrier. Diaz said the US Embassy may book him a flight, adding that "they are very efficient" in that.

Sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, said Jimenez will be flown first to Guam, which is a US territory, for a stopover and then on to Miami, where he is facing charges.

US carrier Continental has daily flights to Guam late in the evening.

NBI agents will escort Jimenez until he gets on the plane. US marshals will take over once he is aboard.

Security at Ninoy Aquino International Airport has been tightened to prevent any trouble.

US Embassy spokeswoman Karen Kelley earlier said Jimenez would be accorded "due dignity" because of his status as a lawmaker. But his request not to be handcuffed may not be granted, citing regulations.

Meanwhile, sources in the Department of Justice predicted that Jimenez may not come back from the United States.

Although his cases in the US are bailable, he may have difficulty convincing the court there to allow him to post bail because he is a fugitive from US justice, they said. – With Mike Frialde, Aurea Calica, Delon Porcalla, Rey Arquiza