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Thursday, October 13, 2005
Gov't vows help for public execs involved in spy case in US
EXECUTIVE Secretary Eduardo Ermita Wednesday assured that ranking government officials, both active and former officials, who would be tagged in the espionage case in the US would be assisted by the Philippine Government once they are properly and officially named.
Ermita also expressed the government's openness to assist the US Government in its investigations on the espionage case slapped against former national police deputy director Michael Ray Aquino and Filipino-American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) analyst Leandro Aragoncillo.
He however said they would only do so if asked and they would not volunteer, especially since the unnamed officials are possible members of the opposition.
He assured them that the unnamed officials would be assisted through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), whether they are administration allies or would come form the opposition.
He said this is applied in the case of Aquino, who despite being "identified with somebody in the Philippines with the opposition, it's still the duty of Philippine Government through the DFA to offer some help."
Three officials, two current and former high-ranking official, reportedly received the stolen classified information from Aquino who then got it from Aragoncillo. The three were included in the espionage charge slapped against Aquino and Aragoncillo.
Ermita said the government would not pressure anyone into apologizing to the US Government for their actions. He said if they so, they would welcome it, if not, its all right.
Press secretary and presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye stressed those involved must "answer for the embarrassment they have brought the country."
He said they would not name them but he is confident that the public already know who they are.
Bunye just expressed concern that the "stolen classified information" from the US may have ended up in the hands of the communist rebels.
He said aside from being used to bring down the government, this could also mean that an alliance had been formed between the communist group and the opposition. (JMR/Sunnex)
(October 13, 2005 issue)
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