Atong Ang: No ill feelings against Erap

Charlie "Atong" Ang still treasures his friendship with former President Joseph Estrada, his co-accused in the P4.1-billion plunder case before the Sandiganbayan, despite spending five years behind bars in the United States, dzBB radio said. During a 10-minute press conference at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters in Manila City, Ang on Friday related that he bore no ill feelings towards Estrada. The radio report quoted Ang as describing Estrada as "mahal na mahal" (beloved). However, Ang added that he did not want to think about the former president too much because he was caught up worrying about the supposed threats to his life. Asked about executing an affidavit that would implicate Estrada, however, Ang said in Filipino that: "I still don't know the nature of my case. Let me study it first. I will still have to get a lawyer." He added that, "When I find out what my case is and what will happen in the coming days, that's when i'll decide what's in the best interest of the country." After his arrest in Nevada in 2001, Ang has had a lot of time to think about his past with Estrada. Their checkered past included frequent trips to casino tables, with one session caught on tape on Sept. 15, 1996. Casino worker Edgar Bentain, who operated the inhouse security cameras, disappeared some eight months after Estrada was elected president. Now, Ang expressed readiness to share more information about Bentain's disappearance, as well as the 1995 Kuratong Baleleng rubout case. Ang is accused of handing out some P130 million in tobacco excise taxes to the former president. He expressed regret Friday that he let some past decisions to adversely affect his life. Also during the press conference, Ang admitted speaking with Estrada's nemesis Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, but merely for a personal matter. Singson is a close ally of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who took over the presidency after Estrada's ouster. Ang also denied speaking with First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. "Nobody convinced me to change statements or testify against anyone. Nobody. If people talked to me in Las Vegas, maybe it was my old friends," Ang said in Filipino. Administration critics had warned that a deal might have been forged between Ang and President Arroyo's men in exchange for lighter treatment on his plunder case. During his flight back to the Philippines, administration Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr was "coincidentally" seated at the plane's business class cabin with Ang. Ang also had a 30-minute closed-door meeting with Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, wherein he supposedly relayed information about the Kuratong Baleleng rubout and Bentain abduction cases. However, Ang claimed that no one from the Arroyo administration has asked him testify against his former gambling buddy. Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) submitted late Friday afternoon its return alias order of arrest to the Sandiganbayan, raising the possibility that Ang would spend the weekend at the agency's jail in Taft Avenue, Manila. The anti-graft court received the documents at 4:15 p.m. The papers included Ang's booking sheet which contained his fingerprints. The NBI will now await a commitment order from the Sandiganbayan regarding the location of Ang's detention cell. Radio station dzBB quoted Sandiganbayan Sheriff Ed Urieta as saying that Ang may have to stay at the NBI jail for a week. Among the sites being considered for Ang's detention is the Quezon City jail and Tanay town, the same area in Rizal province where Estrada has been under police custody.-GMANews.TV