Michael Ray Aquino
Encyclopedia
Michael Ray Aquino is a former intelligence officer
in the police force of the Philippines
. He was accused of involvement in a 2000 political murder, and more recently was convicted of helping to transmit classified information from the United States
to opposition leaders in the Philippines.
Aquino's Philippine-related career included serving as Deputy Directory of the Intelligence Group, and as senior superintendent of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (now defunct). He served under President Joseph Estrada
, and remained politically loyal to Estrada after Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
rose to power. In 2001, he and Cesar Mancao were charged in connection with the killing of Bubby Dacer
, a former public relations official for Joseph Estrada. Aquino then left the Philippines and moved to New York
.
In March 2005, Aquino was arrested for overstaying his visa
. He contacted his friend Leandro Aragoncillo
, a Philippine-born security specialist at the White House
; however, Aragoncillo's efforts on Aquino's behalf eventually led to Aragoncillo's being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
. In the course of that investigation, evidence of espionage
against the United States Government was uncovered. Aquino was then accused of helping Aragoncillo transmit classified United States documents regarding President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to her opponents in the Philippines, including both Joseph Estrada and current opposition leader Panfilo Lacson
, who had been Aquino's superior in the police force. Under an eventual plea-bargain agreement, Aquino entered a plea of guilty to illegal possession of classified documents, but avoided the more serious charge of espionage
that Leandro Aragoncillo received.
Aquino faced a jail sentence of between 70 and 87 months plus a $250,000 fine. On July 17, 2007, he was sentenced to six years and four months in prison by U.S. District Judge William H. Walls. Federal prosecutors had sought the maximum 10-year term.
Intelligence officer
An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile and/or analyze information which is of use to that organization...
in the police force of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He was accused of involvement in a 2000 political murder, and more recently was convicted of helping to transmit classified information from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to opposition leaders in the Philippines.
Aquino's Philippine-related career included serving as Deputy Directory of the Intelligence Group, and as senior superintendent of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (now defunct). He served under President Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
, and remained politically loyal to Estrada after Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
rose to power. In 2001, he and Cesar Mancao were charged in connection with the killing of Bubby Dacer
Bubby Dacer
Salvador "Bubby" Dacer was a publicist in the Philippines. His clients included many of the top figures in Philippine politics, notably Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada....
, a former public relations official for Joseph Estrada. Aquino then left the Philippines and moved to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In March 2005, Aquino was arrested for overstaying his visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
. He contacted his friend Leandro Aragoncillo
Leandro Aragoncillo
Leandro Aragoncillo is a former, FBI intelligence analyst, and a retired, United States Marine Corps, gunnery-sergeant who was convicted of spying against the United States Government in 2007...
, a Philippine-born security specialist at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
; however, Aragoncillo's efforts on Aquino's behalf eventually led to Aragoncillo's being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
. In the course of that investigation, evidence of espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
against the United States Government was uncovered. Aquino was then accused of helping Aragoncillo transmit classified United States documents regarding President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to her opponents in the Philippines, including both Joseph Estrada and current opposition leader Panfilo Lacson
Panfilo Lacson
Panfilo "Ping" Morena Lacson, Sr. is a Filipino politician. He was Director-General of the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001 and has been a member of the Philippine Senate since 2001.-Early life and education:...
, who had been Aquino's superior in the police force. Under an eventual plea-bargain agreement, Aquino entered a plea of guilty to illegal possession of classified documents, but avoided the more serious charge of espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
that Leandro Aragoncillo received.
Aquino faced a jail sentence of between 70 and 87 months plus a $250,000 fine. On July 17, 2007, he was sentenced to six years and four months in prison by U.S. District Judge William H. Walls. Federal prosecutors had sought the maximum 10-year term.