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Michael Ray Aquino in third try to void extradition

Michael Ray Aquino’s April 11 petition: MRA_petition_for_hearing April 11

Former Police officer Michael Ray Aquino cited the Court of Appeal’s judgment of lack of credibility of his former colleague Cezar Mancao II in his last-ditch appeal to stop his extradition.

In his motion for re-hearing filed last April 11, Aquino, who is currently detained at the Hudson County jail in New Jersey, said he filed his petition for rehearing “on the submission that it is not in accord with the accepted definition of ‘competent evidence’ nor is it in accord with the standards for the finding of probable cause for a murder charge…”

Aquino is facing murder charges in connection with the disappearance in November 2000 of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.

In his appeal, Aquino said three facts are clear:

1) The fact of death has not been substantiated by any physical evidence; the physical evidence, in fact, negates such a finding.

2) Even if death has been proven, no witness has made any statement implicating him.

3) The only statement linking him to the alleged murder is hearsay for Cezar Mancao declared not credible and trustworthy witness by the Philippine Court of Appeals.

Aquino assailed the credibility of the evidence presented by the prosecution in Philippine court. He said according to the prosecution, “Dacer and Corbito were blindfolded, tied and strangled to death. Their bodies were placed on top of a pile of stray wood and rubber tires, doused with gasoline and burned. The fire lasted for a mere thirty minutes, as declared by the prosecution witness at the trial. Recovered at the scene were a few pieces of bones and metal dental implants.”

Aquino said the prosecution’s narration of the crime defies science as even” a closed environment of a crematorium requires , on average, several hours” to burn a human body.

There was also a finding by the National Bureau of Investigation that the bones presented by the prosecution were animal remains.

In his earlier appeal (Dec. 2010), he argued that “without a victim, there is no death. In the absence of death, there is no crime of murder. Without a crime, there can be no basis for a finding of probable cause.”

It was denied, however. If his April 11 petition is denied, Aquino is expected to be brought back to the Philippines.

Aquino together with Mancao and another police officer, Glen Dumlao left the country for the United States in July 2001 knowing very well that the government of Arroyo would run after them. His passport was canceled which made him an illegal alien in the US. While his legal status was still being appealed, he got involved with the case of Fil-American Leandro Aragoncillo, a former FBI analyst who was accused of stealing classified documents.

Aquino had admitted the crime of “possession of classified documents.” He had served time for that offense.

On April 23, 2008, the Philippine government requested Aquino’s extradition, which was granted on March 4, 2010.

Published inJusticeMalaya

130 Comments

  1. Al Al

    If this appeal is not granted, when is he expected to be returned to the Philippines?

  2. parasabayan parasabayan

    I hope when he comes back to PI, he will have some protection.

  3. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    De Lima wants to investigate if there is new evidence? It is right under her nose.

    The NBI recovered a few teeth. Why has there been no physical exam of it? Do they match the alleged dental charts referred to by Fortun?

    It takes only one gram of teeth to get DNA by way of PCR (polymerase chain reaction). How come that has not been done all these years? Prohibitive costs? No Ma’am. It costs only $299. Google it.

    How come the alleged dentists of Dacer and Corbito were never put on the witness stand? Fortun referred to them in the letter to Wycoco, but in her testimony, she referred to Kalalo of the NBI. Have those dentists ever confirmed Fortun’s lies?

    Where are the dental plates now? Lost like the semen sample in the Hubert Webb case?

    Where is the dental chart? Is it really Dacer’s or some generic chart like the one below?

    http://www.ada.org/2930.aspx

    This hoax has been perpetrated for ten years, by Inquirer journalists with little forensic knowledge. It only takes a little reading to realize that the hoax makes stupid dimwits out of all who believe the death of Dacer as proven by the few bones.

    Try reading books by Dr. Bill Bass, and William Maples. Maybe I will anonymously send one to De Lima.

    By the way, Maples went to the Philippines when the Flor Contemplacion case was the big to do.

  4. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    If the contrary view is correct, that Aquino, Dumlao et al were only after documents, then all this conspiracy talk is just a convenient way to connect them to Lacson, or Erap or both. That makes the lowly foot soldier or patrolman, now in jail, a pawn to the big political stakes game, of pinning Erap with something to aid the coup by the Glue.

    The evidence is disturbing, to say the least, for there is tenuous proof of death, yet the pawns have been in jail all these years.

    Is there a need to reinvestigate from a fresh perspective, without the baggage of the pre-given (by the former administration) conclusions? I believe so, if only to abide by the judicial philosophy of listening before accusing, as exemplified by the following quote from Justice Samuel Alito, in his confirmation hearings:

    Good judges develop certain habits of mind. One of those habits of mind is the habit of delaying reaching conclusions until everything has been considered. Good judges are always open to the possibility of changing their minds, based on the next brief that they read or the next argument that’s made by an attorney, who’s appearing before them, or a comment that is made by a colleague during the conference on the case when the judges privately discuss the case.

    A prosecutor serves as judge, at least in the preliminary investigation stage. He determines whether or not to inflict the stigma of a criminal case on an individual. He determines, in a non-bailable case, whether or not someone will be incarcerated until he proves himself innocent. I hope they abide by the above quote.

  5. chi chi

    #5. De Lima wants to investigate if there is new evidence? It is right under her nose.

    Bakit kaya, clearly she has not looked carefully yet into the facts and evidences recovered while in the course of investigations in the past? Ngayon gusto nya bagong produksyon ng evidence.

    Naku, magbasa na lang sya ng mga posts dito nina atty sax tongue et al. tapos ang kanyang problema. Halata naman masyado si Leila.

  6. abc abc

    LRT pinasabog… Dacer at Corbito pinatay… Erap bagsak.

    Plaza Miranda pinasabog… Ninoy pinatay… Macoy bagsak.

    Sa ganitong anggulo, MRA, may kinalaman kaya sa pagpatay kay Dacer at Corbito?

    Leila, dilemma mo yan bilang DOJ chief. Damn if you do, damn if you don’t.

    Katarungan pa rin ang hanap namin sa pagkamatay ni Dacer at Corbito.

  7. Phil Cruz Phil Cruz

    Yep. The biggest question in this whole thing is “Are both Dacer and Corbito really dead?”

    This stuff would make terrific material for crime and mystery movies. What would be the twist in the movie’s ending?

  8. parasabayan parasabayan

    Uso naman ang plastic surgery. They may just be in your midst. Or, nasa Bahamas sila at pa-margarita, margarita na lang…heh,heh,heh.

  9. Psb,
    My thoughts exactly, if Belo can do that to Jinky Paquiao, anything is possible nowadays, just watch ” the tourist.”

  10. parasabayan parasabayan

    Jug, for the right price, everything is possible. May mga gusto lang idiin. I hope the real villain will be caught.

  11. parasabayan parasabayan

    Sorry, but I cannot trust the Philippine justice system. There is no integrity in gathering the evidences. And if indeed evidences are gathered, they disappear.

  12. chi chi

    jug, nagpabago ba ng mukha si Jinky Pakyaw? Kasi ng makita ko sa piktyur ay maganda na, hahaha!

    Ewsn ko ba kung bakit si de Lima ay hindi tuunan ng pansin na buto ng hayop ang iprinisinta ng prosecution, finding mismo ng NBI.

  13. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Reinvestigation daw, sabi ni De Lima.

    When they were gunning for Mancao, isang katerba ang pumunta sa Florida (marahil para mag-swimming, at manood ng naka-bikining chicks) – Usec Ernesto Pineda, Usec Oscar Calderon, NBI Director Diaz. with them also was Hzel Valdez.

    They should spend some money also, to interview or take the affidavit of Father Baldostamon in Norway. Spring na, so halos hubad na ang mga Norwegians. Puwedeng mag-sight-seeing ang prosecutor after talking to Father Baldostamon. Magsama na rin kayo ng taga Bureau of Fisheries, to learn how to smoke fish Scandinavian style, para maka-pag-export tayo sa Tate.

  14. tru blue tru blue

    “he got involved with the case of Fil-American Leandro Aragoncillo, a former FBI analyst who was accused of stealing classified documents.”

    Six years na lang, labas na si Jarhead. What a waste of career and talent…lucky him if he can even land a job as a security guard. Well, there is always Pinas to fall back on, Ping can always hire him as his bodyguard or the kabayo can make him head of security at his animal barn.

  15. abc abc

    Lacson is our man…

    Mayron na raw alam si Ping sa mga pumatay kay Dacer at Corbito. Huwag lang siyang kokontrahin ng Dacer family at sasabihin din niya ang mga salarin. Nangangalap pa ng mas matibay na ebidensya at puwede na niyang sabihin.

    Hanggang kailan ang pangangalap? Kung patay na ang kabayo? Kung paso na ang kaso?

    For Christ’s sake, hanap namin ay katarungan sa pagkamatay ni Dacer at Corbito. Period.

    May bitag, huwag kaagad kakagat sa laro ni Ping. Magaling sa “psy-war”. Kung kagatin mo yan, tanggal siya kaagad bilang suspect. Huwag mong kagatin naman, isasama niya sa hukay ang lihim. Saan mo gusto ngayon Dacer family?

    Marunong ang gumawa ng krimen, naglagay/naghalo sila ng buto at ngipin ng hayop sa pinag-sunugan, para lituhin ang mga imbestigador. Parang pelikula.

    Kung buhay pa sina Dacer at Corbito, bakit hindi sila lumalabas hanggang ngayon at sabihin na “buhay kami”? Ano sila, kasama ng nga demonyong pinaglalaruan ang mga naghihirap na Pilipino?

  16. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Marunong ang gumawa ng krimen, naglagay/naghalo sila ng buto at ngipin ng hayop sa pinag-sunugan, para lituhin ang mga imbestigador. Parang pelikula.

    Sabi ni Fortun tiyak niyang si Dacer dahil sa buto at dental plate. Ngayon, nabuking, biglang kambio, sinadya kuno ng pumatay na maghalo ng buto ng hayop.

    Gayun din ang NBI, sabi nila, smoking gun, yung mga buto, buto daw nila Dacer.

    Bakit hindi pa lumilitaw sila Dacer? Maaaring pinatay noong gustong mag-frame-up kay Ping or Erap, or both.

    Maaari ding buhay pa. Ngunit dahil sa $100 Million damages suit sa California, hindi yan lilitaw.

    Tiyak ba tayong walang life insurance yan? Nakuha na ba?

    Kung talagang namatay at sinunog doon sa Cavite, lahat ng ekxpserto, sinasabing dapat may labing buong skeleton. Hindi nagiging pulbos ang tao sa sunog lamang. Sa crematorium, dinadaan yan sa blender.

    Nagoyo kayo ng mga promotor ng EDSA Dos. Ang kawawa, yung mga kawal na pawn lamang sa labanang high stakes. Matagal nang nakakulong ang mga pobre.

    Kung patay na nga, yes, there must be justice for them. Pero yan ay makakamit kung makita ang tunay na salarin. Si Ping ba? O iba? Yan ay malalaman sa pagsuri ng physical evidence. Yung mga ngawa-ngawa ten years after, hindi kapani-paniwala yan, lalo na’t hinimas ng isang DOJ sec, dalawang Usec, NBI director, at prosecutor.

  17. “Kung buhay pa sina Dacer at Corbito, bakit hindi sila lumalabas hanggang ngayon at sabihin na “buhay kami”? Ano sila, kasama ng nga demonyong pinaglalaruan ang mga naghihirap na Pilipino?”

    Hindi mo yata kilala si Dacer, abc. Kung si Erap at Ramos, pinaglaruan niya, taumbayan pa?

    Balikan mo yung diskusyon namin dito ni dina pinoy at pati yung assessment ni Don Enrique “Enzo” Zobel tungkol kay Dacer, nandoon. I search mo rin yung mga comments dito ni Ellen, maraming beses niyang “ipinakilala” dito ang pagkatao ni Dacer.

    Ang sagot sa tanong mo – OO.

  18. He admitted in court that sometime in September 2007, while he was still in the United States, he received a call from a man who identified himself as General Prestoza, who was then the Presidential Security Group commander,” said Mancao’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio.

    “He said the caller offered him and his family financial support, relocation in Singapore and education support for his children in exchange for false statements against Senator Lacson,” Topacio said.

  19. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Ang tunay na imbestigador, bukas ang isip, sa lahat ng posibilidad. Sa kaso halimbawa ni Jon Benet Ramsey, pati ama at ina, pinagsuspetsahan, upang maging kumpleto ang pagsasaliksik.

    Sa usaping ito, isinubo ng dating NBI ang mga conclusion ng mamamayan. Nandoong ayaw ni Nani Perez (remember him?) na mag-pa DNA, dahil daw corroborative (karagdagan) lang daw yon. Di ba’t panggogoyo yan? Dahil ang DNA ang pinakamatibay na ebidensya? Kahit corroborative lang, bakit hindi ginawa, upang lalong lumakas ang kaso? Kasi, buto nga ng hayop, at ayaw nilang malaman ng tao.

    Ang ibig sabihin ng reinvestigation, ulitang pagsusuri. Kung uulit, dapat magsimula sa wala, parang ngayon lang nangyari, at magsasaliksik na bukas ang pag-iisip, saan man humantong ang pagsasaliksik. Kung uulitin lamang ang mga dating hakbang, at hahantong sa dating pag-uunawa, para que pang inulit.

    Sabi nga ni Einstein, “insanity is repeating the same behavior and expecting different results.”

    Kung dadaanin lamang sa tanong tanong ng mga dating may gawa ng affidavit, palagay niyo ba magkakaroon ng bagong kaalaman? Bakit hindi imbestigahin ang mga paratang ni Dumlao, na sinasabing pinadidiin nila Victor Corpus et al si Ping. After, all, si Dumlao ang puno ng lahat ng suspetsa kay Ping. Mahirap namang selective ang pagsusuri ng mga pahayag ni Dumlao – yung laban kay Ping, pinaniniwalaan; yung pabor, kasinungalingan kuno.

  20. abc abc

    Salamat SnV, Tongue. Sanga-sanga, gumanda ang kuwento.

    Hanggang sa isang manunulat lang ang pagkakilala ko kay Dacer. Gusto ko pang makilalang mabuti ang pagkatao niya.

    Di ko rin nabasa ang “panlalaro” ni Dacer kay FVR at Erap.

    Sa isang balita, nalaman ko lang na nakita pa ni FVR si Dacer bago mawala. Ayaw naman ni Dacer si Ping bilang PNP chief.

    Walang ibang gagawin si Lacson

  21. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Ayaw naman ni Dacer si Ping bilang PNP chief.

    Ang nipis namang basehan ng pagsuspetsang ibig ni Ping ipapatay si Dacer.

    Nakamit ni Ping ang pagiging PNP Chief. Di ba’t sapat na paghihiganti na yon? Butata ang kalaban? As in “Ano gago walang nangyari sa paninira mo. Ako pa rin ang PNP Chief.”

  22. abc abc

    ooops… na-submit ko kaagad.

    Walang ibang gagawin si Lacson… kundi makipagtulungan para maresolba kaagad ang kaso.

  23. abc, (at sa ibang baguhan dito) Kung matiyaga ka(yo) ay hanapin mo yung links ng mga news articles na ini-link ni John Marzan last month lang yun o kaya’y i-search mo sa blog ni John.

    Nandoon pati yung isang oras matapos ma-late si Dacer sa meeting niya with FVR, ini-report na ni FVR sa media na “missing” si Dacer. Para sa akin yan ang giveaway clue na may alam nga si FVR o wala.

    Dito sa blog ni Ellen nung Sept. 18, 2009, marami kang matututunan kay saxnviolins at ibang contributors dito:

    http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=7286

  24. abc abc

    ok. Thanks Tongue. Maganda ang kuwento, magtiyaga ako. “Missing”… tama.

  25. abc abc

    “abc, (at sa ibang baguhan dito) Kung matiyaga ka(yo) ay hanapin mo yung links ng mga news articles na ini-link ni John Marzan last month lang yun o kaya’y i-search mo sa blog ni John.”… Tongue

    first time at kababasa ko lang ito… http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=7286… parang may pagkakahawig sa mga nasambit ko na dito.

    Isusunod kung hanapin ang pagkatao ni Dacer, at ang “panlalaro” niya kay FVR at Erap.

  26. Ang puno’t ulo nito, yung DNA testing results e, minamasahe pa yata. Hindi malaman kasi talaga if it was really a man’s charred bones or those of a cow’s.

    Man or cow?

    Ayun, kinuhang state witness si Mancow. 8)

  27. ABC # 24: Hanggang sa isang manunulat lang ang pagkakilala ko kay Dacer. Gusto ko pang makilalang mabuti ang pagkatao niya.

    ABC, hindi manunulat si Dacer. Public relations ang trabaho niya. Nagbu-broker siya sa pagitang ng media at ng kanyang mga kliyente na mga politiko at mga negosyante.Hindi ko nga alam kong member siya ng Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP).

    Ibang klaseng PR ang ginagawa ni Dacer. I consciously distanced from him when he was still alive.

  28. abc abc

    Kinorek na ako diyan ng isang katabi ko kagabi, na “si Dacer ay isang PR man”, di ko masyadong pinansin. Salamat Ellen 🙂

    Napuyat, hilong talilong ako sa kababasa. Masarap basahin ang mga malalalim na komento nila.

  29. Salamat abc. In the Arroyo administration, then Justice Undersecretaty Blancaflor kept on suggesting that legitimate media organizations take up Dacer’s case and add it to media killings. No one took up his suggestion.

    Alam naman namin sa industriya kung sino ang journalists at sino ang hanggang ID lang na journalist. Madali naman gumawa ng Press ID, no.

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