By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© 2009 Journal Group Link International)

C HICAGO, Illinois (JGLi) – Magistrate Judge Esther Salas of the United States District Court of New Jersey in Newark ordered Thursday (March 4) the extradition of former Filipino police officer Michael Ray B. Aquino to the Philippines after establishing probable cause that Aquino “was involved with the double murder of (Salvador “Bubby”) Dacer and (Dacer’s driver, Emmanuel) Corbito” more than nine years ago.

In a one-page order, supported by a 24-page opinion, Judge Salas said, “This matter, having come before the Court by way of the Government’s application for the extradition of Michael Ray Beguas Aquino, and, for the reasons set for the in Court’s corresponding Opinion dated March 4, 2010, IT IS on this 4th day of March, 2010, ORDERED that the Government’s application is GRANTED.”

Judge Salas also certified Aquino's extradition “to the Secretary of State, together with a copy of all evidence received for this matter. The Court will issue a warrant authorizing the commitment of Aquino, so that he may be held until his surrender to the proper authorities.”

In determining the probable cause against the 43-year-old decorated police officer, Salas “found the Affidavit by Glenn Dumlao to be critical.” Dumlao was Aquino’s subordinate officer in the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), which was constituted on July 22, 1998, following the election of Joseph Estrada to the presidency.

The PAOCTF, designed to “combat criminal syndicates both in public and private sectors,” was headed by then General-turned Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who directly reported to Estrada. Aquino, who served as Chief of Operations Division, reported to Lacson.

Beginning in January 1999, Aquino “tasked” (assigned) Dumlao to monitor Dacer in his office housed at a Manila Hotel room. Then, Aquino ordered Dumlao “to surreptitiously enter the room, take whatever documents he could find, and also instructed Dumlao to monitor the individuals that were visiting Dacer.”

When Dumlao failed to “obtain any useful information,” Aquino is “alleged to have instructed Dumlao to either burn down or bomb Dacer’s hotel room.”

Later in October 2000, Aquino summoned Dumlao intending to revive the Dacer investigation that had gone cold. When Dumlao told Aquino that he was preoccupied with other matters, Aquino said he would assign (former Police Chief Inspector Vicente) Arnado to the Dacer investigation.

Judge Salas believes that when another police officer Cezar O. Mancao II, a police superintendent and chief of Task Force Luzon, “questioned Aquino about Arnado’s special operations task, Aquino responded that this was something that would be taken up with General Lacson.

As such, it is evident that Arnado was being supervised by Aquino with regard to his role in the Dacer investigation.”

Mancao was equal in rank to Aquino. However, Aquino occupied a higher position. Dumlao served as Mancao’s deputy. Because Aquino “did not have any direct staff, he would occasionally task individuals from Task Force Luzon.

“The following day, Arnado found Dumlao and posed several questions, one of which was an inquiry into the type of car Dacer drove.

“On Nov. 24, 2000, Dacer and Corbito were surrounded at gun point, extracted from their vehicle, thrown into the back of a van, and blindfolded.

As soon as Aquino is extradited to Manila, he will be facing a court trial along with 22 others originally accused in the double murders. A full-blown trial, however, would have to wait pending the arrest or surrender of Senator Lacson, who has gone into hiding after being charged in the murders.

“Following their abduction, Dacer and Corbito were taken to Cavite, which interestingly enough is the same region where Dacer’s white Toyota was found.

“Later that evening, Dacer and Corbito were strangled to death.”

The Court “notes the distinct pattern of a cover up and concealing identities. For example, Aquino referred to Dacer as “Delta.”

A dditionally, Dacer and Corbito were blindfolded the entire time so that individuals could not be identified.

“Concomitantly, Aquino ensured that no officers from Bicol journeyed to Cavite. (Dacer was from the Bicol city of Naga).

“Aquino further directed Dumlao to secure all of the documents and to bring them to him following Dacer’s interrogation. Moreover, both Dacer and Corbito’s bodies were burned so as to conceal any evidence of their identities.

“Therefore, the Court deems it plausible that Aquino was clearly concerned about making sure that he could not be implicated.”

The opinion added, “The evidence extrapolated from Mancao’s investigation into Dacer and Corbito’s disappearances provides additional proof of Aquino’s involvement in the victims’ murders.

“Mancao discovered that Aquino gave illegal orders and that (former Supt. Teofilo) Vina was tasked by Aquino to neutralize Dacer.

“When Dacer’s vehicle was recovered, Aquino blamed Vina for sloppily disposing of Dacer’s vehicle because it was easily discoverable.

“As such, a reasonable person could deduce that Aquino was involved in the abduction, murders, and cover up of Dacer and Corbito.

“In considering, the totality of the evidence presented, the Court believes that based on the facts presented, a person of ordinary prudence and caution would conscientiously entertain a reasonable belief that Aquino committed the alleged acts.”

The order ends Aquino’s more than three months of waiting for the decision following his extradition hearing of the case last Nov. 23.

When Dumlao and Mancao attended their own extradition hearings, the judges hearing their separate cases issued their extradition orders on the same day after the hearings.

As soon as Aquino is extradited to Manila, he will be facing a court trial along with 22 others originally accused in the double murders.

A full-blown trial, however, would have to wait pending the arrest or surrender of Senator Lacson, who has gone into hiding after being charged in the murders.

Former President Estrada had denied any part in the murders conspiracy.

An e-mail message from this reporter, seeking comment from Aquino’s lawyer, Mark A. Berman, was not answered. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)

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