THE Sandiganbayan Special Division yesterday told Charlie "Atong" Ang to shut his mouth on pain on losing his bid for probation.

"You can’t talk to anybody, that’s a condition. That would be prejudicial to the other accused in this (plunder) case," Presiding Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro said.

Ang was sentenced to a maximum of six years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to indirect bribery in connection to corruption of public officials. The court also ordered him to pay P25 million in civil liability.

He admitted he pocketed P25 million of the P130 million tobacco excise tax funds which he said he delivered to the house of President Joseph Estrada at No. 1 Polk st. in North Greenhills, San Juan.

Ang is Estrada’s co-accused in the P4.1 billion plunder case.

He also admitted arranging illegal gambling payola.

Ang’s lawyers have filed an application for probation and are hoping that he will be released from detention in a matter of weeks.

Ang offered his family’s mansion in Corinthian Gardens in Quezon City as payment for civil liability but the graft court declined.

"As a rule, civil liability is paid in cash," said De Castro.

The graft court reminded Ang to raise P25 million in 15 days before the ruling on his prison term becomes final and executory or he will not be qualified for probation.

Ang’s lawyers said they will file a written motion asking the graft court to accept the mansion as payment.

Estrada’s lawyers earlier objected to Ang’s plea bargain if his admission would be used against the detained leader.

They said they were not given an opportunity to cross-examine Ang on his supposed admissions.

On the assurance from the prosecution that no part of Ang’s plea bargain would be used against Estrada, the court approved the agreement.

Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio clarified that as part of his deal with the government, Ang may still testify against the other defendants in the plunder case.

"Maybe we will call him to testify against Yolly Ricaforte, Delia Rajas, Eleuterio Tan or Alma Alfaro once they are arrested," he said.

Ricaforte was accused of acting as accountant for Estrada’s jueteng collections. Rajas, Tan and Alfaro were named as the supposed dummy account holders in the illegal diversion of P130 million tobacco excise tax funds. – Peter J.G. Tabingo