FBI agents coming to Manila to get proof vs Michael Ray, Aragoncillo

Federal Bureau of Investigation agents are expected to arrive in the country as they start gathering more evidence on the alleged involvement of some Philippine government officials in the alleged espionage activities of former police officer Michael Ray Aquino and FBI intelligence analyst Leandro Aragoncillo.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco recently visited Washington and met with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) officials and case investigators.

"They expressed seriousness in pursuing the case," Wycoco said. "As a matter of fact, anytime now they would send FBI agents to gather more evidence in the case. They would request the NBI’s assistance."

Wycoco said the NBI assistance will be provided under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).

"We are awaiting a letter from them," he said, adding that FBI’s formal request for NBI assistance "may come anytime soon. They will write a letter invoking the MLAT asking the Philippine government to gather more evidence on the case."

While others may doubt the sincerity of the US government’s decision to prosecute Aragoncillo and Aquino — a former Philippine National Police (PNP) senior superintendent assigned to the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) — because of the slow progress on the case, Wycoco said he never doubted the seriousness of US authorities in investigating this leakage of classified information.

Aragoncillo was accused of passing 101 confidential documents, of which 37 were classified as "secret," either by printing or downloading them from May to Aug. 15. Neither Aragoncillo or Aquino were allowed to post bail.

They were both charged with one count of conspiracy to communicate classified information to a representative of a foreign government.

Aragoncillo and Aquino face a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of $250,000 for the conspiracy charge and an additional 10 years in prison and a penalty of $250,000 for charges of acting as unregistered foreign agents in the US.

Aragoncillo also faces the additional charges of unauthorized use of government computer, punishable by a 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.

The information was reportedly sent to two high-ranking government officials and a former high-ranking government official of the Philippines whose names have not yet been disclosed.

Aquino has been indicted for the charges and has pleaded not guilty, while Aragoncillo entered a plea bargain.

"Aragoncillo has already mentioned the names (of the Philippine officials) and documents (transmitted)," Wycoco said.

He said the FBI "already started gathering evidence by monitoring (Aragoncillo’s) Yahoo e-mails and his telephone calls. They are now looking into the financial transactions of Aragoncillo and Aquino. They are now looking at the money trail. They are just completing all the details."