Erap lawyer says Atong Ang risking perjury as gov’t witness

A lawyer for former President Joseph Estrada warned Tuesday Charlie "Atong" Ang is risking perjury should he testifies as a prosecution witness in the deposed Philippine leader’s plunder case. Interviewed over radio station dzXL, Estrada counsel Rufus Rodriguez said Ang cannot go back on the testimony he gave the Senate Blue Ribbon committee in 2000 that Estrada never benefited from jueteng,, an illegal numbers game. "On Oct. 16 and 23, 2000, Ang testified that Estrada never benefited from jueteng money or excise tax money as claimed by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson. He made that statement under oath, and under questioning by senators. He cannot reverse himself on a statement he made under oath at the Senate," Rodriguez said. He said that should Ang testify as a "star witness" for the prosecution as government lawyers reportedly claim, he faces possible perjury charges. On the other hand, Rodriguez said the repeated claims of prosecution lawyers that Ang will testify for them smacks of their "desperation." Rodriguez pointed out that as far as the Estrada plunder trial is concerned, the defense and the prosecution have already finished presenting their respective witnesses and evidence. "It just shows the prosecution is desperate. Both sides already finished with their cases. President Estrada gave a good account of himself when he testified," he said. Besides, Rodriguez said having Ang testify will again delay the already "overdue" decision of the Sandiganbayan on Estrada's plunder case. "We want this to end. The prosecution had five years to get the job done," he said. Earlier, published reports quoted Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor as saying that Ang could prove to the "clincher" in the government’s plunder case against the deposed President Estrada. "With or without Atong Ang, we have a strong case…but with Ang, our chances of a 100 percent conviction will be bolstered," Defensor said. Ang is co-accused along with Estrada, Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, and lawyer Edward Serapio. He fled to the US shortly after Estrada was ousted in January 2001 but was subsequently arrested in Las Vegas where he underwent extradition proceedings. -GMANews.TV