|
|
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Gov't to aid ex-police official nabbed for 'espionage' (10:20 a.m.)
MANILA -- The government would just monitor developments in the case filed against former National Police deputy director Michael Ray Aquino who was arrested in the US last Monday and extend whatever assistance he might need particularly in defending himself.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said he was surprised to learn of
the arrest, particularly by the involvement of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He said as far as he knows, the government, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), had no prior knowledge of the FBI operations.
Ermita said the only case he knows involving Aquino was when he was
arrested a few months back and it had something to do with his overstaying in the US.
He said after the Philippine Government assured that there was no
pending case against him in the Philippines, he was freed by the US officials.
“As far as the Philippine Government is concerned, we’ll just monitor
this. Ang natanggap natin ay (What we got is that) it’s another offense so tingnan natin kung gaano ka grabe ang (we will so how grave is the) offense for which he was arrested,” he said.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Gilberto Asuque said the judicial process
against Aquino in the US must first be resolved before both the Philippine and
US Governments decide on whether he should be deported back to the country or allowed to stay.
He also assured that that the Philippines is prepared to represent him
in court if needed.
“While the judicial process in the United States is already in progress
we will follow that but the Philippine consulate general is ready to
extend to a Filipino national, the embassy in the consulate, are ready to extend assistance but we have to observe the judicial process,” he said.
Asuque added that Aquino’s lawyer had already been informed of the
arrest.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita refused to put “color” on Aquino’s
arrest, which stemmed from the possession of confidential documents reportedly downloaded from FBI files. The confidential files reportedly
pertain to the Philippines.
But he said that suspicions would be difficult to dismiss. He
acknowledged that some sectors would speculate that his continued stay in the US is an attempt to run away from Philippine laws while others might link his stay with the political situation in the country.
Ermita said only Aquino could explain why he prefers to stay in the US
and why he had those documents and what he intends to do with it. Aquino is
one of Senator Panfilo Lacson's co-accused in the alleged rubout of the
Kuratong Baleleng kidnap-for-ransom group.
“If the reports are true that he was caught trying to gain access to
information on some (Philippine) politicians on FBI files, I think that is a very
serious thing. It could be a cover for something else, kunwari humingi lamang ng (he might just be pretending for ask for) information about politicians,” he said.
“Hindi natin napapagaalis (We can't take that away), just because he is known to be identified with the senator kaya me kinalaman sa ating pulitika dito (that is why it might have something to do with politics here). I cannot tell that such is true dahil hindi ko naman alam ang (because I do not know the) background,” he added. (JMR)
|
|
|
|
