PHILIPPINES NEWS SERVICE — SENATOR Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is not afraid of the arrival of former police colonel Glen Dumlao; instead he considers this as a welcome development to shed light to the Dacer-Corbito case.
Lacson said he fears nothing against Dumlao because he already saw the three affidavits given by the former police official.
“Iyong una, hand written na sinubmit niya iyon, na sworn before a prosecutor; iyong pangalawa, ni-reject niya iyong sinabi niya sa unang affidavit at sinabi niya na-torture siya at pangatlo, in-affirm niya iyong unang affidavit niya, so tatlo ang affidavits niya. Hindi ko alam kung mayroon pang pang-apat. Maski isa sa tatlong affidavits na ginawa niya, wala naman nag-i-implicate sa akin doon,” he added.
He added that even former Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) Task Force Luzon commander Sr. Supt. Cesar Mancao did not implicate him in the recent court hearing in Manila.
“Maging kahapon sa pagdinig sa testimony ni Mancao, sa open court ganoon din, hindi ako in-implicate except ang isang nadagdag lang doon sa kanyang written affidavit, nabasa ko na rin dahil lumabas na rin sa mga pahayagan,” said Lacson.
Lacson said he doesn’t know anything about the claim of Mancao that he reported directly to former President Joseph Estrada.
“Hindi ko alam iyan, at hindi ako makakapag-comment doon, basta’t ako nagre-report direkta kay dating President Estrada. May mga tauhan ako na pinatatawag niya direkta o hindi at hindi ko alam, wala akong alam doon,” he further stressed.
As this develops, Lacson urged acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera not to be biased over the Dacer-Corbito case.
“Ewan ko kay (Sec.) Devanadera at sana kung mag-prosecute eh mag-prosecute na lang at huwag mag-persecute kasi sa bandang huli ay lalabas at lalabas din ang totoo. At paulit-ulit at sinabi ko na ito at sasabihin ko ulit, wala akong kinalaman diyan sa kaso ng Dacer-Corbito na iyan,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Chiz Escudero has urged the government not to use in a political propaganda the 9-year Dacer-Corbito case.
“I caution those who are out to take advantage of former police officer Cesar Mancao to vilify former President Joseph Estrada and Sen. Panfilo Lacson — both leading figures of the opposition,” said Escudero.
The young senator said the reopening of the double murder case is intended to obtain justice for the late Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, and not to serve anyone’s selfish, political agenda.
“The government should take extra care in handling the prosecution of those allegedly involved in their murders and prevent the proceedings from taking a political turn,” he added.
The latest developments come at a time when former President Estrada’s ratings have surged in the latest surveys, causing sleepless nights for some administration officials.
“Again, I urge Mancao to be steadfast in telling the truth and resist any attempt to make use of his testimony to serve political ends,” Escudero added.