Former fugitive Michael Ray Aquino now works for Solaire

Former fugitive officer Michael Ray Aquino, who had been cleared by the courts of all his legal troubles, has been quietly hired by port tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. as deputy director for security of Razon’s Solaire luxury casino-hotel.

A police colonel until he fled for the United States after Edsa II for having been implicated in the double-murder case of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver, Aquino had his baptism of fire during last month’s opening of Solaire, when a record 26,000 guests nearly crushed the weekend opening to ogle and sample Manila’s latest and best gaming destination.

Up to now, Solaire employees could not help but chuckle at the sight of 1,000 lechon Razon had ordered for the guests and employees alike for the opening day-feast.

And the grand gesture also extends to the gaming aficionados, with not one but three Mercedes-Benz E-class cabriolet -- apparently specially ordered since local distributor Cats does not carry the model -- will be raffled off to lucky gamers just for this month alone, said Solaire spokesperson Joy Wassmer.

The 500-room hotel meanwhile will start receiving guests today, where the cheapest room can be had at an introductory rate of P7,500 a night, excluding 12 percent VAT and another 10 percent for service charge.

(By way of comparison, Sofitel, aka as Philippine Plaza at the other farther end of the Mall of Asia complex, is offering P6,500 for the same night.)

Solaire’s seaside rooms, with an unobstructed view of the famed Manila Bay sunset, cost P2,000 extra a night.

Those who wish to avoid the sticker-shock of the Solaire’s gourmet restaurants -- an order of blowfish sashimi at the Japanese restaurant costs P5,200++, for example – should head early to the sparkling coffee shop, where a P1,000-buffet breakfast is served up to 11 a.m.

Fans of Shangri-La’s Circles and Sofitel’s Spiral’s bountiful spreads will not be disappointed.