Gonzalez 'to be' Mancao lawyer if yanked from DOJ

MANILA, Philippines - Amid speculations he would be yanked out of his post for another position in Malacañang, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez is considering acting as lawyer of former Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II in the Dacer-Corbito case. Gonzalez said in a radio interview Monday that he wants to “help" Mancao tell the truth on the disappearance and death of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. “Wherever I am, kahit private person ako, kung may kailangan sa akin pwede ako magtulong. Kahit private person ako pwede ako pumasok as private lawyer of Mancao," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. [If I become a private person, I’ll be willing to be a private lawyer of Mancao.] Mancao’s wife had contacted Gonzalez for “help" late last year and relayed Mancao’s supposed willingness to testify in the Dacer-Corbito case. But Gonzalez admitted he was surprised over reports he is to be yanked out as Justice Secretary because he played a key role in the “revival" of the Dacer-Corbito case. According to the reports, Gonzalez was to be removed from the Department of Justice and replaced with Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera. He would then be appointed chief presidential legal counsel. “It will be surprising especially in the light of the fact that I was basically instrumental in the revival of the Dacer-Corbito case. Siyempre lahat ng mga dapat gawin diyan nakasalalay sa akin, he said. [It came as a surprise in the sense that I was basically instrumental in reviving the Dacer-Corbito case. There are a lot of aspects of the case where I still have to play a key role.] - GMANews.TV