Palace: Ang testimony to ensure plunder conviction of Erap, Jinggoy

HONOLULU, Hawaii — Businessman Charlie "Atong" Ang’s testimony would ensure the conviction of ousted President Joseph Estrada and his son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada of plunder, presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said here yesterday.

Defensor, who joined President Arroyo’s final leg of her working trip abroad here, said Ang, the Estradas’ co-accused in the plunder trial who is now detained in the United States, has expressed his desire to turn state witness.

"It (Ang’s testimony) could be critical because what he would be saying would help in substantiating the charges against Estrada," Defensor said.

"Honestly, with or without Atong Ang we have a strong case but with Atong Ang there, that could really lead to 100 percent conviction."

Defensor said Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio would be flying to the US, but that he could not say whether it was connected with Ang’s testimony against Estrada.

On the way here, he met a team of agents from the National Bureau of Investigation, led by Special Task Force chief Reynaldo Esmeralda, in Los Angeles on their way to Las Vegas to meet with their counterparts to discuss procedures for Ang’s extradition, he added.

Defensor said the possibility of Ang testifying for the government could delay the proceedings in Estrada’s plunder trial before a special division of the Sandiganbayan.

"But just imagine if he will corroborate the government’s evidence," he said.

On the other hand, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, who also joined Mrs. Arroyo in Honolulu, opposed any move to make Ang a state witness.

"Even if he wants to testify when he is returned to the Philippines, we will not take him as a witness because our case is already very strong," he told reporters here in Filipino.

Singson said Ang called him up recently seeking his help to allow him to turn state witness and avoid imprisonment when he is deported to the Philippines.

However, Villa-Ignacio said Ang would not be presented as a rebuttal witness for the prosecution. He said the prosecution may ask the Sandiganbayan to hold a separate plunder trial for Ang.

Meanwhile, two NBI agents tasked to escort Ang would return empty handed on Thursday after a US district court extended Ang’s extradition hearing to Oct. 2.

Esmeralda and Interpol Division special investigator Raul Tepace were sent to Las Vegas, Nevada to fetch Ang. They are expected to return on Sept. 21. — With Mike Frialde, Evelyn Macairan, Eileen Peñaflor