(Update) Atong Ang seeks re-entry into US for daughter’s wedding

(Updated 12:20 p.m.) Charlie “Atong" Ang, a former co-accused in the plunder case against deposed President Joseph Estrada, has applied for re-entry into the United States, which extradited him to the Philippines in November 2006. This is part of his motion to the Sandiganbayan Special Division asking for a 25-day travel pass covering the period of January 5 to 30, 2008. Ruth B. Castelo, counsel for Ang, informed the graft court Thursday that her client has written to US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristy Kenney last December 17 to inquire if his status qualifies him to visit his family in Las Vegas, Nevada, and to attend his daughter’s wedding on January 19, 2008. In the same letter, Ang signified his intention to renew his US visa, which will expire in March 2008. However, Ang may face problems renewing his US visa. The US embassy’s Public Affairs Division said Ang’s US visa was cancelled when the US government deported him in November 2006 to face plunder charges in the Philippines. Ang pleaded guilty last May to a lesser crime of bribery of public official to evade prosecution for plunder, a capital offense, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment and confiscation of any property deemed by the court to be ill gotten. The plea bargain earned him a jail sentence of two years and four months, which was waived in lieu of a two-year probation of which he has already served seven months. He was also ordered to reimburse the government for P25 million, which he admitted to having skimmed off the P130 million tobacco excise tax funds earmarked for the province of Ilocos Sur. In his plea bargain, Ang claimed that he delivered the rest of the money to Estrada at the latter’s own home at No. 1 Polk St., North Greenhills, San Juan. Castelo informed the American embassy and the Sandiganbayan that Ang is willing to post a P500,000-travel bond and a property bond worth P1.3 million in the form of a farm lot in Lian, Batangas, lent to him by a friend. The lawyer said Ang is not barred by any law to seek renewal of his passport subject only to the approval of the Department of Foreign Affairs. If Ang is issued a new passport, Castelo argued that her client can be allowed to leave the country since his travel request has already been endorsed by his probation officer in accordance with the requirement of his probation. “Certainly, movant (Ang) is not a threat to national security or public safety as he is in no way involved in crimes of rebellion or insurrection, murder, homicide or any offense involving the peace and security of the nation; nor is movant any threat to public health," Castelo pointed out. - GMANews.TV