Justice chief says Erap buddy Atong Ang back in RP on Friday

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said yesterday that Charlie "Atong" Ang, former President Joseph Estrada’s crony, will finally arrive in the country at 5:30 a.m. on Friday.

Gonzalez told a press conference that Ang will leave the United States tomorrow evening escorted by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents led by Reynaldo Esmeralda, deputy director for Regional Operation Services.

"Ang will take the flight and will be leaving (the US) tomorrow (Wednesday) night. He will arrive here on Friday at 6 a.m.," he said.

Gonzalez said the NBI would surrender Ang to the Sandiganbayan once he arrives.

"We have to surrender him (Ang) first to the Sandiganbayan. The Sandiganbayan should decide where he should be detained or be granted bail," he said.

Gonzalez said the NBI technically is implementing the arrest of Ang.

"We are making an arrest and, in effect, we are returning the arrest warrant," Gonzalez said.

He earlier said that Ang is still reluctant to return to the country due to alleged threats to his life. He said that Ang told him that a certain "Zubia" has threatened to liquidate him once he returns to the country.

Gonzalez said that in a telephone conversation, Ang told him and Esmeralda that Zubia is threatening him to prevent him from returning to the country.

"Esmeralda said Ang mentioned 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 Zubia issued threats against him. I talked to him over the cellphone and he told me about it over the cellphone," Gonzalez said.

He, 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 of somebody by the name of Zubia," Gonzalez said.

He said Ang asked for his help to 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 (in Las Vegas, Nevada). I turned down his request," Gonzalez said.

He said the US District Court, in a note verbale to the Philippine government dated Oct. 6, has given local authorities until Nov. 11 to take custody of Ang.

"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.

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

He said the Department of Justice 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.

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 the evidence will also be repeated," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez did not discount the possibility that Ang might be granted bail by the Sandiganbayan, citing the bail granted to Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, another co-accused in the plunder case of former President Estrada.

He said that Ang has given some information to the team of Esmeralda.

Ang will be wearing handcuffs when he arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

From the airport, he would immediately be brought to the NBI head office in Manila while waiting for the Sandiganbayan to issue a commitment order and decide where Ang would be detained, said NBI spokesman Regional Director Ricardo Diaz.

"The long arm of the law has finally caught up with Atong Ang. He would be arriving on the 10th of November at 5:30 a.m., Manila time. He would be on a direct flight from Los Angeles to Manila," said Diaz, who is also the concurrent chief of the NBI-Criminal Intelligence Division (CID).