Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Estrada co-accused asks court to let him stay in probe bureau
CHARLIE "Atong" Ang on Monday asked the Sandiganbayan Special Division to allow him to remain in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) while his trial on plunder is pending, citing threats to his life.
In a motion filed through lawyer Alfredo Villamor, Ang told the court that even while he was in the US, he received text messages and anonymous phone calls warning him against returning to the Philippines "for his own good."
"These threats could be due to speculations that he (Ang) will be used as a state witness against other accused (in the plunder case) and he will be providing information in connection with other cases vis-a-vis the Kuratong Baleleng and Bentain cases," his lawyer said.
Both cases involved incumbent and former government officials but Ang emphasized that he "is not necessarily insinuating that those implicated had anything to do with the threats."
Under Sandiganbayan rules, Ang is supposed to be detained at the Quezon City Jail but Villamor said his client needs stricter protection than the city jail can provide.
"To commit herein accused to the Quezon City Jail would be a clear gamble on his life as he would have to mingle with the numerous detention prisoners there for the entire duration of his trial. The situation at the Quezon City Jail is certainly far from ideal to ensure the security and safety of herein accused," he said.
Likewise, Ang noted that his co-defendants in the plunder case, particularly former President Joseph Estrada, were allowed detention in other places than the city jail.
Estrada is restricted in his family's rest house in Tanay, Rizal while his son, Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada was detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center prior to his release on a P500,000 bail.
Former Estrada lawyer, Edward Serapio, was held at Camp Crame before his petition for bail was granted by the Sandiganbayan.
Ang was accused of taking part in the illegal diversion of P130 million in tobacco excise tax funds and delivering the sum to Estrada's residence in Greenhills, San Juan. (DBP/Sunnex)
