Michael Ray Aquino back; clears Estrada, Lacson

Michael Ray Aquino arrived early Sunday morning in the Philippines and has cleared former President Joseph Estrada and Senator Panfilo Lacson for the death of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.

In his statement, Aquino said that he wanted the Filipino people to know that former President Estrada or Senator Lacson did not order him to kidnap, harm and/or murder anyone, specifically Dacer and Corbito.

Lacson has been as been tagged as the principal suspect on the death of Dacer while Estrada has been implicated based on the testimony of former police Cezar Mancao as being the mastermind.

Aquino also said that he is ready to face his accusers and prove his innocence.

Aquino and Mancao left for the United States in 2001 because, according to Mancao's earlier affidavit, Lacson wanted them to leave the country as the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wanted to link them to the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

In 2005 Aquino was arrested in the U.S. for overstaying his visa but was also later charged with security specialist Leandro Aragoncillo for espionage. Aquino later pleaded guilty to illegal possession of classified documents and faced jail sentence of six years and four months. This later was reduced to three years and 10 months for good behavior. — DBL