Question: What military officer and later de facto ruler of Panama was pen pal of Sarah York?
Context: Sarah York is an American who became the pen pal of Manuel Noriega, then the de facto ruler of Panama, at age 10.  York began correspondence with Noriega after her father suggested on a whim that she should write to him because she liked the general's hat.  This correspondence developed to the point where Noriega invited her family to visit him in Panama.  Her family agreed to the visit, seeing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Juan Vicente Gómez Chacón (24 July 1857 – 17 December 1935) was a military general and de facto ruler of Venezuela from 1908 until his death in 1935.  He was president on three occasions during this time, and ruled as an unelected military strongman for the rest of the era. Trịnh Cối (鄭檜, ?  - 1584) was the de facto ruler of Southern dynasty in only 1570 and official ruler during 1570 - 1572. Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno (] ; February 11, 1934 – May 29, 2017) was a Panamanian politician and military officer, with longstanding ties to United States intelligence agencies.  He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989, when he was removed from power by the United States invasion of Panama. Abu al-Misk Kafur (905–968), also called al-Laithi, al-Suri, al-Labi was a dominant personality of Ikhshidid Egypt and Syria.  Originally a black slave from Ethiopia, he was promoted as vizier of Egypt, becoming its de facto ruler from 946.  After the death of his master, Muhammad bin Tughj, Kafur succeeded the latter to become the "de jure" ruler of the Ikshidid domains, Egypt and southern Syria (including Damascus), until his death in 968. Joan de Geneville, 2nd Baroness Geneville, Countess of March, Baroness Mortimer (2 February 1286 – 19 October 1356), also known as Jeanne de Joinville, was the daughter of Sir Piers de Geneville and Joan of Lusignan.  She inherited the estates of her grandparents, Geoffrey de Geneville, 1st Baron Geneville, and Maud de Lacy, Baroness Geneville.  She was one of the wealthiest heiresses in the Welsh Marches and County Meath, Ireland.  She was the wife of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, the de facto ruler of England from 1327 to 1330.  She succeeded as suo jure 2nd Baroness Geneville on 21 October 1314 upon the death of her grandfather, Geoffrey de Geneville. Luis Carlos Gómez Centurión (May 31, 1922 – November 17, 2006) was an Argentine politician, military man, and de facto ruler of the province of Corrientes. Trịnh Tùng (1550–1623), also known as Trịnh Tòng and later given the title "Bình An Vương", was the de facto ruler of Dai Viet from 1572 to 1623.  Trịnh Tùng is the first official Trịnh Lord, although his father – Trịnh Kiểm – was de facto ruler of Dai Viet before him, Trịnh Kiểm never claimed himself as Trịnh Lord.  Therefore Trịnh Kiểm is not considered as the first Trịnh Lord. Hyder Ali Khan also known as Hyder Ali Sahib (Kannada: ಹೈದೆರ್ ಅಲಿ ಖಾನ್), "Haidarālī" (Kannada: ಹೈದರಾಲಿ) (c. 1720 – 7 December 1782) was the Sultan and "de facto" ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India.  Born as Sayyid walSharif Hyder Ali Khan, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers.  Rising to the post of Dalavayi (commander-in-chief) to Krishnaraja Wodeyar II, he came to dominate the titular monarch and the Mysore government.  He became the de facto ruler of Mysore as Sarvadhikari (Chief Minister) by 1761.  He offered strong resistance against the military advances of the British East India Company during the First and Second Anglo–Mysore Wars, and he was the innovator of military use of the iron-cased Mysorean rockets. Trịnh Kiểm (1503–1570) ruled northern part of Vietnam from 1545 to 1570.  Trịnh Kiểm was the founder of the Trịnh Lords or House of Trịnh who ruled Dai Viet while a succession of figurehead Later Lê Emperors took the role as puppet government.  During his rule, the war with the Mạc Dynasty continued.  Although he was the de facto ruler of Dai Viet during his reign, he never claimed himself title of Lord, hence he is not the first official Trịnh Lord but his son Trịnh Tùng is the first.  Later Trịnh Kiểm was posthumously proclaimed Trịnh Lord by his descendants.
Answer: Manuel Noriega