Friday, November 10, 2006
Estrada co-accused to be detained in Quezon City
MANILA -- Charlie "Atong" Ang, a co-respondent in the multi-billion plunder case of detained former President Joseph Estrada, will be brought to the Quezon City jail as soon as he arrives in Manila from the US early Friday.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is expected to turn over Ang to the Sandiganbayan Special Division upon Ang's arrival, according to the anti-graft court's sheriff.
Ang, who has stayed in the US for five years, will be accompanied by NBI operatives upon his return to the country.
Ang fled to the US after the ouster of Estrada from office in 2001.
Edgardo Urieta, the Sandiganbayan's chief sheriff, said Ang, who is facing a non-bailable case, will be sent by the court to a regular detention center and the Quezon City jail is the nearest available place for the extradited former drinking buddy of the former President.
"He will have to stay there unless the court tells us to bring him to another detention facility," Urieta added.
At the same time, Urieta said the court, which also handles the plunder case of co-accused Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and lawyer Edward Serapio, is expected to set Ang's arraignment as soon as he is brought to the anti-graft court.
Chief Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said unlike the former President, Ang would have to stay in a regular jail pending a decision on his case.
Villa-Ignacio also repeated that the prosecution panel would not need Ang's testimony, claiming that it has a "very strong and winnable" case against the former President and his co-accused.
Ang, he added, will never be used as the panel's rebuttal witness to ensure that it gets a guilty verdict on the case against the former President.
He said the prosecution is ready to give a separate trial should Ang ask for it.
"We are willing to go another round. Anyway, it would be easier for us this time because we already have all the evidence," said Villa-Ignacio.
Prosecutors alleged that Ang helped Estrada set up a protection racket for jueteng and misappropriated P130 million worth of tobacco excise taxes. Ang denied the charges.
The defense panel, on the other hand, expressed no doubt that they would be able to win the case of the former President even if the prosecution managed to get Ang as its rebuttal witness.
Ang, according to Estrada's legal counsel Rene Saguisag, posed no problem to the former President and his panel of lawyers. (DBP/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (November 10, 2006 issue)
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