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 ith
the unsealing of the FBI indictment against Michael Rey Aquino and Leandro Aragoncillo
 for
spying against the United States close at hand, curiosity in Manila and
across the globe is reaching a fever pitch as millions of Filipinos want
to know who the three high-level Philippine officials included in that
sealed FBI indictment are.
At first, many openly admitted
communicating with Aquino or Aragoncillo; both in US custody in
New York on charges of espionage. Those public acknowledgements however,
stopped after NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco
warned Filipinos that their public pronouncements could be
used against them by the FBI.
Until we know for sure, here are the
three "most likely" names being bandied about.
Ping Lacson?
The inclusion of Lacson is a "slam dunk" to many. Michael Rey Aquino has
been doing Lacson's dirty work for at least a decade--possibly two.
Known as Ping Lacson's henchman, Aquino was one of those implicated in
the Kuratong Baleleng massacre, and the abduction and murder of Dacer
and Orbito. Rumored to be a god-son of disgraced president Joseph Estrada, Aquino was one of the "untouchable" bad boys who operated above the
law during the Estrada regime. The Philippine justice system never had
the guts to stop him; might the US justice system finally be able to put this
person behind bars? And if it does; what will happen to his long-time mentor, and
role model Ping Lacson?
Kit Tatad?
Unfortunately, Kit has always been on the wrong side of the issue since
day-one, when he launched his career as Minister of Information--or
"misinformation" as many at the time preferred to characterized it--of
the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship. After Marcos fled in disgrace, Kit
somehow managed to win a senate seat, trying his best to impress his
constituents, not with the substance of his ideas but with his misplaced
sartorial style; dressing for the senate as though he was headed for a GQ photo-shoot. Unfortunately, it impressed no one and
instead made him look
sadly laughable. He may have difficulty getting used to an orange prison
jumpsuit. But if he turns out to be one of the three, and is later found
guilty, he'll have all the time in the world to make that difficult adjustment.
Joseph Estrada?
What else can we say about the former president. Gloria Arroyo should do him a
favor and severely limit his access to the outside. Since his detention,
he's made one misstep after another. Give Estrada enough rope and he may
just end up hanging himself--this may be what GMA had in mind all along!
Estrada still thinks he should be president again, but sadly this will
never happen. He was once given that most unique opportunity by the Filipino
people and he squandered it! It all went to his head--and into the
pockets of his family(s) and cronies.
 While,
the Filipino masses were growing poorer and more desperate, he built a
lavish mansions for his many "concubines." One of them with a
pool surrounded by sand specially flown-in
from the island of Boracay. How's that for a pampered presidential
mistress!
The three choices we listed above are
indeed a sorry bunch, and even if none of them happen to be included in
the FBI indictment, they still deserve the public's scorn for their past
actions, when they put their own selfish interests above all else. They
used their power and authority as public servants to either enrich
themselves and their friends, and/or suppress the legitimate will of the
People!
We'll eventually find out who the three
indicted officials are. In the mean time, tell us what you think of all
this.
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