Atong Ang turns media-shy, wants to be left alone

Even in the company of hard-core terrorists, disgraced presidential crony Charlie "Atong" Ang is doing fine in his new detention cell at the Metro Manila Rehabilitation Center in Bicutan, Taguig.

According to South sector jail warden Superintendent Edgar Bolcio, Ang had expressed no qualms at all despite receiving only a few visitors since the time of his transfer.

"It is his counsel and a few friends who already came here to see him but this doesn’t bother him because he busies himself with physical exercises," Bolcio added.

After spending a night at the Quezon City jail, Ang was admitted to Cell 48, located in the left wing of the second floor of the Special Intensive Care Area (SICA) building where detainees include 135 suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Jail authorities assured Ang’s safety, pointing out the tight security measures now being implemented to prevent a riot similar to the one staged by Abu Sayyaf bandits that left 23 inmates dead in March 2005.

Bolcio said Ang wanted to be left alone for awhile. He said Ang seemed to be calm and serene as compared to his earlier situation at the Quezon City jail.

"He is safe here and it looks like he will easily adapt to the environment," Bolcio said.

He said Ang would have to remain in that particular cell for an indefinite period, noting the plunder case against the businessman is a non-bailable offense.

"There is no plan yet for a transfer to another cell. It is not safe," he added.

Bolcio denied extending special treatment to Ang, pointing out the detention cell is no different from the cells of other inmates.

"What has been allowed inside Ang’s cell are the same things that can be seen in other detention cells such as television sets and water dispensers," he said.

Authorities are implementing tight security measures for the safety of Ang who had been claiming threats to his life.

Ang arrived in the country last week from Los Angeles, fetched by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following his extradition.

Ang had repeatedly claimed there were threats to his life to justify the possibility that he might turn state witness in the plunder case against his pal, former President Joseph Estrada, where he is also among the co-accused.

Ang claimed the threats to his life made it necessary for him to be placed under NBI custody. He was later transferred from the crowded Quezon City jail.

During his arraignment Wednesday, the Sandiganbayan denied his motion to be placed under NBI custody and committed him to the Quezon City jail.

Jail authorities, however, took notice of the situation and decided it would be safer to move Ang to Metro Manila Rehabilitation Center since the jail is within the compound of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).