Exclusive interview with Sr. Supt. Michael Ray Aqu

Korina Sanchez: Ninoy, why did you leave the country full-knowing about the hold departure order against your leaving?

Michael Ray Aquino: I already knew about the hold departure order because of the declaration of the State of Rebellion. They also declared the warrantless arrest against us. But I knew that our friends General Lacson and Senator Greg Honasan had already left the country. While there was a hold departure order there was no warrant of arrest so I don’t understand why they made a big issue of this.

KS: So, you are saying that since both Ping Lacson and Greg Honasan were able to leave the country after the Mendiola Siege you that were also co-accused so you didn’t think it would matter if you left as well?

MRA: Hindi naman. But that was our question. Why the persecution against us? Government was being selective and was targetting the people under General Lacson. We were the former Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force and our other team members were hunted down as well. We were confused. Fear struck us and we had to protect our lives.

KS: Can you tell us exactly what date you left the Philippines?

MRA: Hanggang ngayon I will not confirm or deny that we already left the country, if you don’t mind.

KS: Ok, no dates involved. It’s just that the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation are now being investigated. The authorities want to know who aided you in your escape from the country. Reaction?

MRA: If we did leave, that information is for us to keep to ourselves. We did not ask for help or assistance from anyone.

KS: Wala kayong hiningan ng tulong sa BID o sa airport?

MRA: Wala.

KS: Your passports are now cancelled. How do you move about? How has this affected you?

MRA: It is not right to brand Col. Mancao and myself as fugitives. It is also illegal that our passports were cancelled. Everyone has the right to travel, we are living in a democratic country,’diba? Not unless they are willing to declare another State of Rebellion or Martial Law perhaps. Kung kaya nilang gawin.

KS: Do you have a lawyer, Ninoy? Did you consult your lawyer or seek advise before you made your decisions?

MRA: I am in constant touch with my lawyer. We are still with Narvasa Salazar. We’ve been with them ever since.

KS: Are you with Col. Cesar Mancao?

MRA: I do not know where Col. Mancao is right now.

KS: So you stay apart. You don’t know where he is? Do you have any plans of coming back to the Philippines to face all the charges and accusations against you?

MRA: My options are open. My plans are open. I am still young so let’s talk about my plans later...

KS: So you’re not sure if you’re still returning to the country or not?

MRA: Reports say I’m in the Netherlands...

KS: Are you returning to face the charges against you?

MRA: Oo naman, syempre. To clear my name against the charges. Government’s actions have caused much fear and anxiety in us and to the members of my family...my siblings, my mother, my friends, my relatives, subordinates and team members. So I think it is just right to have our names be cleared of all accusations.

KS: What will it take for you to return?

MRA: Anytime, anytime. There’s no problem with that. For now there are too many problems to contend with. We have the likes of Mawanay, Co. Victor Corpus, there is an alyas "Mar"...There are too many of them fabricating alleged crimes we’ve committed. Next thing we know they’d blame the death of Rizal on us.

KS: How true is the accusation that one Angelito Sy was shot and killed by your own hands as allegedly witnessed by Ador Mawanay himself. Sy was supposedly a chinese interpreter for the PNP.

MRA: Before I answer that let’s discuss Ador Mawanay. Who is he? Up to now I cannot acknowledge Ador Mawanay as a true person. We don’t know what he’s made of. He has never been a PAOCTF agent. It is not General Lacson’s style to recruit alleged "action agents". I’ve been with Lacson more than 12 years and he will never tolerate recruitment of civilians.. And who else knows of Mawanay? No one knows him from where he sprouted. He cannot show an identification, document or proof to show he was indeed with the PAOCTF. He has no source control data if he really is with the PAOCTF. We don’t know where he lives, what his background is, where he studied, what the name of his mother is, parents or children. Let’s find all these out from the Barangay Captain or from the Census if there really is an Angelo Mawanay. Before he volunteered himself to Arnold Clavio, were did he come from? He must have come from somewhere. All his allegations...his alleged companions have no names, no surnames, no residences. His allegations are impossible. We have to know if he is telling the truth, what his motives are and why he came to be this way...Was he coached? Who are his handlers. He claims that his house was flooded with water during a rainstorm which caused all the receipts and faxed documents to prove his allegations against Senator Loren Legarda to get lost. But didn’t he once say that he lives in a building in Divisoria? How could he be reached by floodwater if he lives in a building? So, before we believe this Mawanay let’s get to the bottom of who he really is.

KS: You allegedly shot and killed Angelito Sy inside a van.

MRA: Let’s get back to that. So many have been affected by what Ador says...people’s careers, government, media and people’s credibility. But why are some still standing their ground for Ador? Okay. Ador says I killed Sy. The date he mentioned is my birthday, May 12, 2000. I am now producing all the greetings for me because I had a small party in the office on that day until 6 o’clock p.m. I did not leave the office. His allegations are impossible to prove. Assuming for the sake of argument, I supposedly shot them and asked the victims to alight from the vehicle? Dead men walking? If he called the police then so why wasn’t I subjected to any checkpoint and get caught in the act? Let’s think logically. Will anyone do that?

KS: The birthday party would seem to be your best defense...

MRA: Wala eh. All he says defies logic.

KS: So, Ninoy, if you are still a friend and ally to Senator Ping Lacson don’t you think you can help him better if you were back here in the Philippines and be able to answer all the charges of Government against you?

MRA: How we wish we could truly help. We pity him. But we have all our lives to protect.

Cong. Ted Failon: Did you tell Sen. Lacson about your plans to leave the country?

MRA: No, he didn’t know. He wasn’t in the PNP anymore while we were still in it.

Cong. Ted Failon: It was today announced from Camp Crame that you and Col. Cesar Mancao have been stricken out of the roster of the PNP officially.

MRA: It is beyond us. They are the ones in power now and they can do whatever they want. For us, I believe the public knows we have done our best. We have done our part to help the country, especially in the area of law enforcement. We’ve done our best against kidnappings, organized crime groups. In our young age and in our short term in office...If they don’t want nor need us then so be it. It’s ok.

KS: So what are your plans, Ninoy? While you are away the accusations multiply. It doesn’t help either that there were hold departure orders and you escaped. Can’t you just come back and end all of it with your version of the truth?

MRA: As I’ve said, we have many options. One is for us to face all the charges. But I can only wish government would show sincerity and fairness. We see and feel persecution. Persistent persecution. We do not want to be accused and blamed for kidnapping, of murder. Everything. All the ills of this country seems blamed on us.

KS: What is your message to Government?

MRA: They should do something about peace and order. There is no law and order in our country right now. Carnapping is an ordinary daily occurrence. In kidnapping there are no results either. So what do you expect? There is no investment. All government knows is vengeance with the use of their offices in power. They should stop it. It’s time to move on and forward. Our country is pitiful. We should all be discerning about who to believe in and analyze motives.