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Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Former top cop nabbed for 'espionage' in US
MANILA -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed Tuesday the arrest on Monday of former police superintendent Michael Ray Aquino in New York City for alleged espionage.
NBI Interpol chief Ricardo Diaz said they received a report from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that Aquino, who is a licensed caregiver based in New York, and his suspected cohort FBI analyst Leandro Aragoncillo, a Filipino-American citizen, were arrested last September 12 for stealing classified documents related to the Philippines.
Aquino, who is now studying nursing, had long been a target of manhunt by Philippine authorities in connection with the alleged rubout of members of the "Kuratong Baleleng" gang and the abduction and murder of PR practitioner Bubby Dacer.
Diaz said it was Aragoncillo who downloaded 101 documents related to the government of the Philippines, 37 of which had been classified as "secret", and passed them on electronically to Aquino.
Aside from espionage, Aragoncillo, who works at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey, will also be charged with illegal use of government facilities.
Under US rules, the penalty for espionage is equal to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of not less than US$250,000. Espionage is a non-bailable offense, therefore Aquino's extradition is not an available remedy.
Following the report of the NBI, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. asked the US Embassy for more information and update on Aquino's arrest.
He said the classified information that Aquino allegedly downloaded might have "manifest political implications...detrimental to our government."
"Please be advised that we support the arrest and detention without bail of Mr. Aquino and would like to be furnished soonest with a summary of the documents downloaded by him so that the government can take necessary action under the circumstances," he said in a letter to Jeff Cole of the US Embassy in Manila.
Gonzalez further asked the US to notify the Philippine Government in case the investigation on Aquino and Aragoncillo reach trial.
"Should local personalities/politicians in the Philippines be mentioned, we request that we be furnished with the names," he added.
In a briefing, Gonzalez said it's possible that the FBI has been monitoring Aquino's movements since January this year.
"As far as I'm concerned, this has relations with current destabilization moves in the country. Why would Michael Ray Aquino fish for evidence and documents about the Philippine Government? Is he going to give it to someone? We know he wouldn't be gathering secret files if these won't be used against the government," he said, refusing to give out names but apparently alluding to Senator Panfilo Lacson. Aquino reported to Lacson during his tenure as PNP chief.
"I don't want to name names. We can't pinpoint anyone but its obvious that there are political figures involved," he added.
As the crime was committed in the US, Gonzalez said Aquino would be facing trial there. He could not be extradited unless, during trial, the FBI would reverse its findings.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it would extend consular service and legal assistance to Aquino.
The former police colonel and another fugitive police officer, Senior Superintendent Cesar Mancao, are charged with the murder of 11 members of the kidnap-for-ransom gang Kuratong Baleleng but the case against them was dismissed by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) for lack of probable cause. The case now remains pending before the Supreme Court (SC).
Last March, the NBI asked the FBI to facilitate the return of Aquino to the country after he was arrested in New York for violation of immigration laws.
No arrest warrant has been issued against Aquino although he was also charged with Dacer's murder in 2000. (ECV/Sunnex)
(September 14, 2005 issue)
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