Witness in Dacer-Corbito case killed in Cavite

A witness in the killing of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000 was gunned down early Wednesday in his house in Cavite, police said. Jimmy Lopez, a vital witness in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, was slain by still unidentified men at his rented house in Barangay Inocencio, Trece Martires City in Cavite. He was set to appear before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday for a preliminary investigation on the twin killings. An unidentified woman, believed to be Lopez’s live-in partner, was also killed by the gunmen, Cavite police said. Police are still conducting an investigation on the incident as of posting time. Lopez and another farmer, Alex Diloy, claimed in 2001 that they assisted members of the now defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) in the Dacer-Corbito killings, which former President Joseph Estrada and Senator Panfilo Lacson allegedly masterminded. Estrada and Lacson have both repeatedly denied the allegations. Several former members of the PAOCTF have been indicted in the killings, including former Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II and Superintendent Glenn Dumlao, who are now being tapped as prosecution witness. The incident elicited a strong reaction from the Department of Justice. "The killing of Jimmy is a strong indication that the enemy is going to do everything to put a stop to the reopening of the case," said Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor. "Let me tell those behind all these, nothing can stop the wheel of justice from turning. We are committed into bringing you to justice," he added. - Andreo C. Calonzo, GMANews.TV