Atong Ang reluctant to return because of alleged death threats — DOJ chief

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez disclosed yesterday that former President Joseph Estrada’s crony Charlie "Atong" Ang, who is scheduled to be extradited to the Philippines, is reluctant to return due to alleged threats on his life.

In a press conference, Gonzalez said that Ang told him that a certain "Zubia" has threatened to liquidate him once he steps foot on Philippine soil again.

Ang is one of the co-accused in the plunder case against Estrada.

Gonzalez said that in a telephone conversation Ang told him and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Deputy Director for regional operation services Reynaldo Esmeralda that Zubia is threatening to prevent him from returning to the country.

Meanwhile, the United States district court in Nevada postponed yesterday the extradition hearing of Ang pending the arrival of the NBI team that will pick up the businessman, ABS-CBN Channel 2 reported yesterday.

The hearing was supposed to determine when US marshals will turn over custody of Ang to the NBI.

Gonzalez had sent Esmeralda and Interpol Division chief Claro de Castro Jr. to Nevada to pick up Ang. Esmeralda and Castro were supposed to leave for the US yesterday morning to fetch Ang.

The US District Court in Nevada had approved the extradition of Ang, co-accused of Estrada in the plunder charges filed at the Sandiganbayan. The court earlier ordered the arrest and detention of Ang after Gonzalez petitioned the US court.

"Esmeralda said Ang mentioned to him that he received threats telling him he might not even be able to leave the aircraft. That is what he said. He told me also that a certain person by the name of Zubia issued threats against him. I talked to him over the cellphone and he told me about it over the cellphone," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez, however, said that he could not immediately believe Ang’s claims because he was not the one who personally received the threats.

"I cannot confirm that because I did not personally receive the threats. But that is what he said. He just made mention somebody by the name of Zubia," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said he does not know anybody by the name of Zubia.

He said Ang asked him if he could still help him extend his stay in the United States.

"He asked me if we can arrange to extend his stay there. Ang is presently under house arrest. I turned down his request," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said that the US District Court, in a note verbale dated Oct. 6 to the Philippine government, gave the justice department until Nov. 11 to take custody of Ang through extradition.

"The US Court ordered Ang’s extradition. He is now under house arrest. The deadline that was mentioned was Nov. 11. He must be transferred to the Philippine government’s custody. Otherwise, he will be freed, as if we have already waived our request to extradite him," Gonzalez said.

He said Esmeralda would head a team of NBI agents to pick up Ang from the US District Court and bring him to the Philippines.

"My instruction to Esmeralda is to bring him home immediately," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will not volunteer the NBI to provide security to Ang once he returns to the country because being a co-accused of Estrada in the plunder case, he has to be turned over to the Sandiganbayan Special Division.

"We will not volunteer the NBI to secure him because that will be misunderstood. It is still dependent on the court. We have to turn him over to the Sandiganbayan. I will not assume his security unless he is turned over to us," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said Ang has appealed to him to detain him in a safe place.

"Ang has appealed for confinement in a safer place because he has been receiving threats already. It is up to the Sandiganbayan where he will be detained once he is back in the country. But the most logical place where he will be detained is in the National Bilibid Prisons," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said Ang’s testimony before the anti-graft court will have no more effect on the case against Estrada.

"It will have no more effect because the case has already been closed. Invariably, the court will hold a trial for Ang and these pieces of evidence will also be repeated," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez earlier said that Ang has filed a petition before the US court to prolong his stay there.

He said Ang also offered to help the Arroyo government in the plunder case against Estrada.

"He (Ang) says he can say something more. Insofar as plunder case is concerned, it is a closed matter. We don’t need testimony from Ang anymore because this case has been closed," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said Ang would have to be surrendered to the Sandiganbayan to face the plunder case, where he was charged as co-accused of Estrada.

He did not discount the possibility that Ang might be granted bail for his temporary liberty by the Sandiganbayan, citing the bail granted to Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, another co-accused of the elder Estrada in the plunder case.

Meanwhile, the NBI said four operation divisions were activated to secure Ang’s arrival in Manila.

Esmeralda said that aside from the bureau personnel assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), agents from the National Capital Region (NCR), Interpol Division, and the Special Task Force (STF) will also be assigned to secure the returning businessman and NBI-NCR Regional Director Ruel Lasala was assigned to head the security team.

Esmeralda said that he talked to Ang by telephone and the businessman is worried that he could be harmed when he returns to the Philippines.

"Atong said he was afraid for his life. He was very concerned with his security," Esmeralda said.

He said Ang has reportedly been receiving negative information, sent either through text messages or coursed through friends. "May nagsabi sa kanya na kung sigurado ba daw siya na makakatapak siya sa Pilipinas (Some are asking him if he is sure to set foot on Philippine soil)," Esmeralda said.