After six years of serving jail time for espionage in the United States, former police superintendent Michael Ray Aquino is returning to the country today (Sunday) to face trial as one of the accused in the murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito, and to possibly unlock the mystery behind the gruesome 2000 killings.
The former intelligence officer of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Task Force (Paoctf) is considered the key to identifying the mastermind behind the murders.
US marshals formally turned over Aquino on Friday night to two National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officials at the Los Angeles airport for the flight back to Manila.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR 103 left LA at 10:56 p.m., Friday (1:56 p.m. Saturday in Manila) and is scheduled to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 2 at 6:05 a.m. Sunday.
Aquino’s safety
From the Naia, Aquino will be taken to the NBI headquarters on Taft Avenue, Manila, where he will be temporarily detained.
A source at the NBI said they had coordinated with airport authorities and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the ex-police official’s safety.
“We have to secure him very well. It would be a big embarrassment if something happened to him,” the source said, adding that at least 100 personnel would secure Aquino following reports of possible threats against him.
The source hinted that the NBI would employ the same strategy it used in the extradition of two former police officials, Glenn Dumlao and Cezar Mancao, from the US.
“It will be the same as Mancao’s case. The process will probably take around five minutes only from the plane to the car,” the source said.
NBI Deputy Director for Intelligence Services and lawyer Ruel Lasala revealed on Friday possible threats to Aquino’s life from at least three sources, including the mastermind behind the Dacer-Corbito killing, although he stressed that the reports were raw and were still up for validation.
No special treatment
Other possible threats are a kidnap-for-ransom group and a transnational drug syndicate.
NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula earlier said that no special treatment would be accorded Aquino who would be treated like any other detainee.
The NBI will present Aquino on Monday before Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina, who will decide where the ex-Paoctf officer should be detained and issue the corresponding commitment order.
Contacted for comment, the lawyer of the Dacer family yesterday expressed hope the arrival of Aquino would lead to the final resolution of the murder case.
“I view his return as a step in the right direction and hope that the case will soon be resolved. Upon his return, the court will have complete authority over him with regard to where he will be jailed and when he will be called to appear in court,” lawyer Demetrio Custodio told the Inquirer in a text message.
Custodio reiterated his belief that Aquino “has some involvement or at least some knowledge of the murders, he being the second highest official of Paoctf.” With a report from Julie M. Aurelio