Double-murder cop loses habeas corpus bid in US anew

CHICAGO — Michael Ray Aquino, a former police officer implicated in the high-profile double murder case of a publicist and his driver more than nine years ago, lost another bid for freedom after a United States court denied his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. US District Court Judge Stanley Chesler of Newark denied Aquino’s petition and reiterated a previous ruling by a US Magistrate Court ordering his extradition to the Philippines. A writ of habeas corpus is filed by or on behalf of a prisoner who believes he or she is being illegally detained. Aquino is facing charges for his alleged involvement in the murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, supposedly as ordered by ousted President Joseph Estrada. Judge Chesler upheld a previous decision for Aquino’s extradition, saying there was “ample evidence to support ‘the Government’s position that Aquino was directing others in the investigation, interrogation, and eventual murders of Dacer and Corbito." “Aquino’s conduct before and after the murders is not only consistent with, but is indicative of a role in the conspiracy," Chesler added. The previous decision ordering Aquino’s extradition noted that he initiated the investigation of Dacer, gave his subordinates specific instructions as to how to carry out the investigation, and even resolved staffing issues relating to the investigation. Aquino filed the petition for a writ of habeas corpus while waiting for the decision on his appeal against the extradition order. If Aquino is extradited to Manila, he will be facing a court trial along with 22 others originally accused in the double murders. Aquino’s defense lawyer Mark Berman could not be reached for comment as of this posting. A 43-year-old decorated police officer, Aquino was one of three police officers who were sought by the Philippine government to be extradited to the Philippines in connection with the Dacer-Corbito double murder. The two others were former police superintendents Cezar O. Mancao II and Glenn Dumlao, both of whom were already extradited to the Philippines. Mancao is now a state witness. They three were all under then General-turned-Senator Panfilo Lacson, who headed the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force during Estrada’s administration. Lacson, now in hiding, and Estrada have both denied involvement in the case. Aquino, Lacson, Estrada, Dumlao and three others were named in the $120-million civil suit filed against them last month by Dacers’ daughters before the US District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. — With Jerrie Abella/VS, GMANews.TV