40 NBI agents to secure Atong

Dozens of heavily armed operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have been deployed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to await the arrival today of disgraced presidential adviser Charlie "Atong" Ang following his extradition from the US.

NBI National Capital Region director Ruel Lasala said more than 40 agents have been assigned to secure Ang upon his arrival at 5 a.m. today.

"Our agents would be wearing bulletproof vests and carry long firearms," Lasala said.

The NBI has dispatched two of its top agents to bring Ang back to the country.

Deputy Director for regional operations service Reynaldo Esmeralda and NBI Interpol division head agent Claro de Castro will accompany Ang on a Philippine Airlines flight (PR 103) from Los Angeles arriving at NAIA today.

Additional policemen will be deployed at the airport to help the NBI secure Ang.

From the airport, Ang will be whisked to the Quezon City Jail where he will be detained without bail on the plunder charges filed against him along with former President Joseph Estrada before the Sandiganbayan.

Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio, the chief prosecutor handling the plunder case against Estrada, said there has been no specific request for Ang’s detention while awaiting trial.

"For me, he should be immediately sent to the Quezon City Jail," he said.

Sandiganbayan sheriff Ed Urieta explained the Quezon City Jail remains the "official depository" of persons under trial at the Sandiganbayan.

Urieta said the anti-graft court would later determine where Ang should be detained.

Under court procedures, the NBI has three days to turn over Ang to the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.

"The NBI has three days to turn over Ang to us, the needed documentations will be done," Urieta said.

Villa Ignacio added the government will not utilize Ang as a state witness against Estrada in the plunder case.

"No way we’re going to use him as rebuttal witness. We’re already comfortable with our evidence," he said.

Villa Ignacio said they will prepare for Ang’s separate trial once the court sets the calendar for the hearing.

"We are willing to go another round. Anyway, it would be easier for us this time because we already have all the evidence," Villa Ignacio said.

Officials added Ang will also be investigated on the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of casino employee Edgar Bentain.

Ang gained notoriety when he was caught on video gambling with then Vice President Joseph Estrada at the Casino Filipino at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.

The tape became a controversial campaign material when it was released by former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairman Manuel Morato, who was running against Estrada in the 1998 presidential elections.

It became more controversial following the mysterious disappearance of Bentain, who was widely believed to have been Morato’s source of the video clip.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Ang’s return to the country would help the government solve the mystery of Bentain’s disappearance.

Gonzalez said the Department of Justice (DOJ) would question Ang over the disappearance of Bentain, particularly the people behind the abduction.

Last September a US District court allowed the extradition of Ang to face the plunder charges filed against him along with Estrada before the Sandiganbayan.

Judge Lawrence Leavitt of the US District Court in Nevada ordered the extradition, citing probable cause in the plunder case.

Ang flew to Las Vegas with his family shortly after Estrada was ousted from office in a popular revolt in January 2001, triggered by the aborted impeachment trial on the allegations made by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson.

Ang was among the principal accused on charges of plunder filed against Estrada before the Sandiganbayan.

The other accused include Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, lawyer Edward Serapio, Yolanda Ricaforte, Alma Alfaro, Eleuterio Ramas Tan and Delia Rajas.

Singson had accused Ang of funneling tobacco tax kickbacks amounting to P130 million and illegal gambling payoffs to Estrada. -With Delon Porcalla, Cecille Suerte Felipe