EDITORIAL — No way out

The opposition will not like the fate that has befallen Michael Ray Aquino, but it should serve as a lesson in the administration of blind justice. In this country, a thousand and one excuses would have been invoked to wiggle out of a criminal indictment that involves partisan political activities. In countries where the rule of law generally prevails, if you break the law, you must pay for it. There is no Machiavellian way out; the end cannot justify the means.

Thus Aquino now faces several years in prison in the United States, where he has admitted receiving information from Filipino-American Leandro Aragoncillo, a former intelligence analyst of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. Aragoncillo has admitted downloading classified information from FBI files while working at the White House. Aquino is believed to have passed on the information to his former boss in the Philippine National Police, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, as well as to deposed President Joseph Estrada and Camarines Sur Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella.

Aquino’s defenders in Manila argue that he and Aragoncillo were merely doing their patriotic duty in trying to gather information exposing wrongdoing in the Arroyo administration. They also argue that the exchange of information covered only Philippine matters, not US affairs. The US indictment, however, was for stealing classified information from US security files. It didn’t matter what sort of information was the target of espionage, and whether there was reason to investigate President Arroyo.

Aquino’s supporters have tried to downplay the two men’s activities, which is easy for them to do since they are not the ones facing from 10 to 15 years in federal prison and then deportation. His supporters have also skirted accusations that he and another former police officer who has fled to the US, Cesar Mancao, were involved in the abduction and brutal murder of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito during the Estrada administration. If Aquino and Mancao ever get deported, they will have to face murder charges here.

Aquino’s supporters have argued that the stolen information was run-of-the-mill — a rehash of reports and opinions in Manila. Perhaps. But unauthorized downloading of classified files from the FBI and the White House is no run-of-the-mill activity. Was the espionage worth it? Not for Aquino and Aragoncillo, who cannot be helped out of their current predicament by their patrons in the Philippines.