Senate cannot claim custody of Lacson - Enrile

Senator Panfilo Lacson may end up in detention in connection with the nine-year-old Dacer Corbito case as the Senate can not claim custody of him, senators said on Wednesday. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, in a phone patch interview, said if Lacson would be arrested while Congress is on break, he would be under the jurisdiction of the court. He said the chamber would not allow its member to be arrested while in session. “Once you are arrested, you are under the jurisdiction of the court. The disposition of your person as an arrested person belongs to the court of justice," he said. In February 1990, Enrile was arrested for rebellion charges inside the Senate halls right after the session was suspended. This was in connection with his alleged involvement in the December 1989 coup attempt against then President Corazon Aquino. The Department of Justice (DOJ) on January 7 filed double murder charges against Lacson for the November 2000 killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. The case was filed at the Manila Regional Trial Court. The crime was allegedly carried out by members of the now defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) on Nov. 24, 2000 in Cavite, Lacson’s home province. Lacson was then the head of the PAOCTF. He had repeatedly denied involvement int he double killings. Senator Francis Escudero said the Senate could request that Lacson be taken under its custody, but it would depend on the court whether to allow it or not. “Even assuming that the Senate would ask for it, the issue would have to be decided by the court with jurisdiction over the case," he said. Senate Majority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., for his part, cited the case of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who had been in detention for years for his involvement in an attempt to overthrow the Arroyo government in July 2003. Enrile, however, ensured that Lacson’s rights would be respected, protected and observed and all courtesies would be given to him. “With due respect to the prosecution service of the government, with due respect to the executive department, I will have to exercise my prerogative as head of the institution of the Senate to protect the rights of any member without prejudice to the outcome of the case," he said. The Congress will resume its session on January 18. - Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMANews.TV