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Friday, July 20, 2007
Co-conspirators in US spy case to face raps
MANILA -- Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. asked US authorities Thursday to furnish him documents in the trial of convicted ex-police officer Michael Ray Aquino.
In a letter to US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Gonzalez said the documents would establish the link between Aquino, who was convicted of espionage in the US, and his "unindicted co-conspirators" some of whom are national figures in the Philippines.
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"It is now our earnest request to be furnished with copies of all pertinent legal and testimonial testimonies as submitted to the court in the US because my government is also studying the possibility of charging Mr. Aquino et al together with the uninvited co-conspirators for crimes they committed against the Republic," he said in his letter.
Gonzalez said the crimes for which Aquino has been convicted in the US are also punishable under Philippine laws and that the pieces of evidence presented were damaging and detrimental to the government.
He further told his US counterpart that he expects Aquino to be deported to the country after he has served the remainder of his six-year sentence.
Asked in an interview if he thinks the evidence against Aquino's co-conspirators is strong, Gonzalez said: "I think so."
Among those who allegedly received documents through email from Aquino were Senator Panfilo Lacson and former President Joseph Estrada.
Other recipients included former House Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella, who admitted receiving emails from Aquino's co-accused, Filipino-American Leandro Aragoncillo; Estrada's sons Senator Jose "Jinggoy" and San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito; and Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
Aragoncillo is a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) analyst who used to work in the office of former US vice president Al Gore. He pleaded guilty stealing to classified documents about the Philippines and passing them on to Aquino. The federal court sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
"It would be better if we have the classified documents. I'm sorry for them if their names are in the classified document," said Gonzalez, who claimed Aquino's cohorts might be liable for sedition and espionage, with espionage as a crime only applicable during wartime and only against another country. (ECV/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (July 20, 2007 issue)
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