Let ax fall on people behind Dacer-Corbito slay case - Palace exec

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Sunday vowed to let the ax of justice fall on anyone who would be proved to have been involved in the killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby" Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito, in 2000 regardless of political stature. "The law should apply to all, otherwise, none at all. So in other words, regardless of who would be hit, everybody should be equal in the eyes of the law," Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told government-run dzRB radio in an interview. The Justice Department is set to reopen the investigation on the Dacer-Corbito killings after former Land Transportation Office head and former police Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya, considered a key witness in the killing, volunteered to testify on the slay case. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez also said two civilians claiming to have gathered the firewood used to burn the bodies of Dacer and Corbito bodies had also come out and offered to testify. Among those being linked to the twin killings is Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who had denied involvement in the slay. Also said to be involved in the slay case were former Senior Superintendents Michael Ray Aquino and Cezar Mancao II and former Superintendent Glenn Dumlao, all members of the now defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) and known subordinates of Lacson, who was then Philippine National Police chief. Mancao and Dumlao are expected to be extradited to the Philippines from the United States soon. In the radio interview, Remonde said that until Mancao and Dumlao had returned to the Philippines and given their affidavit, any reaction or comment on their testimony would be speculation. Also implicated in the killing is deposed President Joseph Estrada, who, like Lacson, had repeatedly denied he had a hand in the slay. Dacer and Corbito were abducted and killed at the height of calls for the ouster of Estrada. Their charred remains were later discovered in Cavite province. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV