DOJ doubts Atong Ang can testify vs Erap

Controversial businessman Charlie "Atong" Ang, the purported smoking gun in the plunder trial of former President Joseph Estrada, may not be able to testify against the ousted leader after all, justice officials said Wednesday. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez expressed doubts that Ang, an erstwhile gambling buddy of Estrada, may be used as a new star witness in the deposed leader's trial before the Sandiganbayan. He made the admission even as he said Ang will likely be tried separately in the Estrada plunder case, where he is one of the accused. "I don't think he can be a witness against Estrada. The presentation of evidence by both sides has finished. It is unlikely Ang's testimony will be admitted as evidence against Estrada. But I am sure Ang will have his own trial because he is a co-accused in the case," he said in Filipino during an interview on dzXL radio. A US court ordered Ang deported to the Philippines by October at the latest. Ang was arrested in Nevada in 2001 upon the request of the Philippine government. Estrada's camp remained unfazed over the prospect of Ang returning to the country and testifying against him. Lawyer Rufus Rodriguez, a spokesman for Estrada, said Ang risks being charged with perjury should he testify against Estrada, especially on the matter of supposed collections from excise taxes and the jueteng illegal numbers game. Rodriguez said Ang had testified before the Senate in 2000 that Estrada never pocketed jueteng money and excise taxes. The only way Ang can be used against Estrada, Gonzalez said, is if the businessman says "something incriminating" during his own trial. "We cannot say that the prosecution against Estrada cannot make use of Ang. Perhaps when he testifies in his defense, he might say something," he said. "I don't think he can still change his testimony before the Senate but there are many witnesses in the case," he added. Gonzalez also said it is up to the Sandiganbayan to decide where to have Ang detained. -GMANews.TV