Michael Ray allowed visit by wife, child

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported yesterday that detained former Philippine National Police (PNP) Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino has been granted access to the sun room and visitation by his wife and child at the Passaic County Jail in New Jersey.

Consul General to New York Cecilia Rebong said the consulate acted on the request of Aquino, who is detained at the New Jersey jail while being charged with espionage.

It was reported last week that Aquino sought access to the jail’s sun room, a rosary and visits from his family.

"Pursuant to the consulate’s request, Mr. Aquino will have telephone access during daytime hours and regular access to the gym, TV and sun room. He may also attend religious services and see the prison chaplain," Rebong said.

Consul Ma. Lourdes Legaspi visited Aquino in jail Tuesday and immediately made representations before the United States authorities for Aquino’s wife, Fatima, and their son to be allowed to visit Aquino in jail.

Rebong said Mrs. Aquino has been informed about the developments and that the consulate general in New York will issue her and her son certificates of identity to pave the way for their jail visits to Aquino.

Two weeks ago, Aquino and Filipino-American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent Leandro Aragoncillo were charged with espionage for sending classified information to two unidentified Philippine public officials over the Internet.

Aquino was charged with acting as an agent of a foreign country without notifying the US Attorney General, a violation of Title 18 of the US Code, Section 951. He was also charged with knowingly communicating classified information by a government employee to an agent or representative of a foreign country and conspiracy to commit all of the aforementioned offenses in violation of US laws.

The classified documents Aquino and Aragoncillo are accused of transmitting reportedly contained analyses of the Philippine political situation conducted by the US government.

According to the charge sheet, these documents were transmitted by e-mail to two incumbent Philippine public officials and one former Philippine public official.