Lacson: I have nothing to do with Atong Ang

Sen. Panfilo Lacson expressed concern yesterday that Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez may be trying to link him to the alleged threat on the life of former President Joseph Estrada’s fugitive crony Charlie "Atong" Ang, who is set to be extradited from the United States.

In an interview over dzXL, Lacson said that Gonzalez was obviously trying to link him to the supposed threat on Ang by mentioning the name of a certain "Zubia" as the person who is threatening Estrada’s friend.

Gonzalez had said that Ang is reluctant to return to the Philippines after allegedly receiving death threats from a certain Zubia.

Ang, a co-accused of Estrada in the plunder charges now pending at the Sandiganbayan, will be extradited to the Philippines from the US to stand trial. Ang was allegedly the collector of revenues from illegal gambling operations.

The US District Court in Nevada approved the extradition of Ang who is now under house arrest in Las Vegas.

Lacson disclosed that his deputy chief of staff at the Senate is retired Chief Superintendent Francisco Zubia, his classmate at the Philippine Military Academy.

Lacson said Gonzalez has been going after him for the longest time and has been trying to link him to various cases including rebellion against the administration.

"Gonzalez even made the announcement (on the threat on Ang) so the motive is very clear. Gonzalez is so irked at me that even in the rebellion case he wants to implicate me," Lacson said. — Marvin Sy