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DOJ sees extradition of Atong Ang soon
December 5, 2003
Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong today hailed the decision of the District Court of Nevada in dismissing the issues raised by Charlie "Atong" Ang to oppose his extradition to the Philippines.
In two separate orders, Judge Lawrence Leavitt denied Ang's pre-hearing motion to exclude evidence of recorded conversations between witness Luis "Chavit" Singson and himself. This issue was raised earlier for not having been properly authenticated and therefore not admissible as evidence.
Leavitt's also set aside Ang's argument that the extradition sought by the Philippine government fails to meet the dual criminality requirement of the RP-US Treaty. Earlier, Ang argued that the plunder law of the Philippines does not exist in the US and therefore, he cannot be extradited.
However, the US court said that two US laws are analogous namely the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) and the Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE).
"The law does not require that the name by which the crime is described in the two countries shall be coextensive, or, in other respects, the same in the two countries," the order reads. "It is enough if the particular act charged is criminal in both jurisdictions."
Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez, who led the Philippine panel in the filing of the extradition request said the orders virtually paves the way for the issuance of a certificate of surrender, for the eventual extradition of Ang to the Philippines.
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