Mancao return, Dumlao arrival to reopen Dacer-Corbito case - DOJ

MANILA, Philippines – Following the highly-anticipated return of former Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez is expecting the high profile Dacer-Corbito double murder case to reopen soon. "Dapat ‘yan, ma-reopen ‘yong kaso [The case should be reopened]," Gonzalez said in an interview with GMA News’ Arnold Clavio over Unang Hirit. He added that the imminent return of Mancao’s former colleague, former Superintendent Glenn Dumlao, could likewise expedite the revival of the case on the twin killings of veteran publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000. Mancao fled to the United States at the height of investigations on the crime in July 2001. Dumlao, for his part, left the country in May 2003. The two former members of the now defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) were subjected to extradition proceedings only in late 2008. After being delayed due to various reasons, Mancao finally returned to the Philippines early morning of June 4, 2009. Dumlao is expected to follow Mancao soon. In Thursday’s interview, Gonzalez said that the Philippine government lost jurisdiction over Mancao and Dumlao after they left Philippine shores. "They were not part of the initial investigation conducted before. Now that they are here, we will reopen the case for them because they are also accused," Gonzalez said. He noted that Mancao would remain detained under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation as an accused and as a "prospective witness." On Nov. 24, 2000, Dacer and Corbito were abducted in Makati by armed men believed to be members of the now defunct PAOCTF headed by then Philippine National Police chief and now Sen. Panfilo Lacson. Mancao headed the task force’s Task Group Luzon with Dumlao as his deputy. Later that day, the two victims were allegedly strangled to death and their bodies burned to ashes. Their remains – bone and teeth fragments – were later discovered in Cavite province. Mancao executed an affidavit on Feb. 13, 2009 linking Lacson and former President Joseph Estrada to the twin killings, but both had since denied having any hand in the deaths of Dacer and Corbito. But Gonzalez clarified that Lacson and Estrada, although implicated in Dacer and Corbito’s deaths, are not yet included in those accused of the alleged crime. "Wala pa namang specific accusation laban sa kanila [There is still no specific accusation against them]," he said. "They are mentioned in the affidavit but they are not accused yet. They are respondents at best at this time," he added. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV