Deafening Silence: FBI Chief Robert Mueller's visit to Manila

Deafening Silence. FBI director Robert Mueller arrived with headline celebrity coverage. Although of below-cabinet rank, he was received by the President, the Secretary of Justice, National Secretary Adviser Roilo Golez, Secretary Rigoberto Tiglao and treated to lunch in Malacaņang. He also met with PNP chief Larry Mendoza, NBI director Reynaldo Wycoco, and Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo.

He gave interviews, held a presscon, discussed terrorism, Al Qaeda, extradition of Mark Jimenez, Yolanda Ricaforte and Atong Ang, offered all kinds of assistance, including training and cooperation in law enforcement.

Everything he said or did in the country was front page news. Well and good, except for one loud silence.

In spite of Secretary Nani Perez and NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco's previous official announcements about a forthcoming FBI certification on the so-called Ping Lacson deposits in the United States, Mueller did not utter a single word .

This should be the final confirmation that US authorities have not found anything against Ping Lacson and Erap in the US. Senator Joker Arroyo, I hope you get the picture now.

The article was written by Amb Maceda in Malaya dated 21 March 2002. Please see also www.malaya.com.ph archives section column of Ducky Paredes dated 20 March 2002

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