DFA cancels passports of Ang, Ricaforte

Suspected gambling lord Charlie "Atong" Ang and jueteng collection auditor Yolanda Ricaforte face possible deportation from foreign countries after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) canceled their passports for being fugitives from justice.

Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Lauro Baja Jr. said they have informed Philippine embassies and consulates abroad that the passports of Ang and Ricaforte were "null and void" pursuant to the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.

"The two are now illegal aliens subject to deportation by their host countries," Baja said.

Ang is a close friend of ousted President Joseph Estrada and has been tagged as one of the biggest operators of the illegal numbers game. Ricaforte, on the other hand, allegedly served as the former president’s auditor for jueteng payoffs. They left for Hong Kong and Los Angeles, respectively, at the height of the EDSA people power II that eventually ousted Estrada last Jan. 20.

Canceled by the DFA were passport DD065712 issued on Feb. 2, 1999 in Manila to Charlie Tiu Hay Ang, and passport EE370387 issued on April 12, 1999 in Manila to Yolanda Tolentino Ricaforte.

"If said passports are presented to the embassy, it is requested that they be confiscated and immediately forwarded to the department, and the holders be issued one-way travel documents to the Philippines. Information and flight details and surrounding circumstances should be communicated to the department in advance for appropriate coordination with the agencies concerned," a DFA circular read.

The decision to cancel the passports was made based at the request of Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, who said the two were evading an ongoing investigation into criminal charges.

Estrada is facing charges of plunder, malversation of public funds, violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, perjury, bribery and possession of unexplained wealth.

Former First Lady Luisa Ejercito, San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, Ang, Ricaforte and other Estrada cronies have been named co-respondents in the cases.