2 NBI agents leave for US for Michael Ray extradition

MANILA, Philippines - Two National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents left last night for the United States to effect the extradition of Michael Ray Aquino, one of the suspects in the November 2000 double murder of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

Lawyer Claro de Castro Jr., chief of the NBI Foreign Liaison Division (formerly NBI Interpol Division), and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Division chief Jesus Manapat left Manila for Los Angeles, California on a direct Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR-102 Monday evening.

It was not clear when the two are coming back to Manila with Aquino.

No security details were revealed by the NBI, but sources said this may be similar to the one arranged for former Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) members Cezar Mancao and Glenn Dumlao.

The two are also suspects in the Dacer-Corbito case and were also extradited from the United States two years ago.

Dumlao has been dropped as an accused by the court and has already given his testimony. Mancao is still under the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program.

Earlier, De Castro said the NBI has been doing all the preparations including documentation needed for the extradition of Aquino, a former PAOCTF member.

More than 20 suspects were charged before the Manila Regional Trial Court for the deaths of Dacer and Corbito, including former Philippine National Police chief and now Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Lacson has repeatedly denied allegations against him and was cleared of the charges by the Court of Appeals.

De Castro said the NBI had received early this month the order from Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, sent through NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula, to escort Aquino from the United States to the Philippines.

The NBI has been coordinating with the US embassy in Manila and other US counterparts and representatives for the scheduling of the extradition.

De Castro would coordinate with the Philippine consulate in Los Angeles for the documentation as soon as they arrive in the US.

Aquino has been detained in New Jersey but is scheduled to be brought to Los Angeles, where he will be detained temporarily while waiting for the NBI agents.

“We would also coordinate with the US marshals for the date and time of our arrival and transfer of Aquino’s custody,” said De Castro, adding that it would take two to three days to process the extradition before Aquino would be transferred to NBI custody.

He said there will be security preparations also in the Philippines upon arrival and Aquino will go through the usual process at NBI headquarters, including booking, fingerprinting and photographing, then he will be turned over to the bureau’s Security Management Division.

“He will be detained in the NBI jail together with the other criminals and no special treatment will be given to him since he is an accused,” De Castro said.

He said upon Aquino’s arrival from the US they will inform the court and wait for its commitment order before the suspect is transferred to the Manila City Jail.