Noynoy: No favors for Lacson when he returns

Fugitive Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson can expect no favors from president-apparent Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III if the lawmaker returns to the country when the new administration takes over. Aquino, who maintains as wide lead in May 10 presidential elections, made this statement late Thursday night when asked what can Lacson – who fled the country after he was charged for the double-murder of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito – expect if he returns to the country once Aquino is president. "Like any other citizen he can expect the rule of law will be religiously observed. Wala akong papaboran, wala rin namang aapihin. So kung ano ang kanyang karapatan talagang mapapangibabaw yan (I will favor no one, but I will also not disparage him. Whatever his rights are will be upheld)," Aquino said in a press briefing during the thanksgiving celebration of PiNoy Lawyers, a group of lawyers that served as election watchdogs for Aquino and his runningmate Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II. A few days after Lacson fled the country in early February, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch-18 Judge Myra Garcia-Fernandez, who is handling the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, ordered Lacson’s arrest. "Pag hindi binawi ng korteng nag-issue ng warrant of arrest, kelangan pong i-serve yun (If the court does not recall its warrant of arrest, it must be served)," Aquino said. "If you are asking me, will I not follow, it I’ll be in violation of the law." Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile was earlier quoted in reports as saying he thinks Lacson might return to the country once Aquino takes the reins from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Lacson, the chief of the Philippine National Police at the time of the Dacer-Corbito murders in November 2000, said in a statement after fleeing the country that he left because the Arroyo administration was harassing him. Lacson is known to be a close colleague of Aquino in the Senate. The two were on the same side of the fence when several senators chastised Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar Jr. for his alleged use of influence to benefit from the controversial C-5 road extension project. Even before Aquino announced that he would be seeking the presidency, Lacson hinted Aquino had his support. "If integrity is one of the standards, Senator Noynoy would definitely pass my book," Lacson told reporters in September 2009. He said he didn't believe the only son of the late former President Corazon Aquino and slain Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. would abuse his power to enrich himself once he becomes president. "Si Noynoy, isa lang masasabi ko, at least sigurado tayo di mangungurakot. Kung si Noynoy nga at siya palarin medyo more or less kampante tayo [na] di siya magnanakaw (With Noynoy, at least we are sure that he is not corrupt. If he wins at least we'll be assured that he would not steal)," said Lacson. — LBG, GMANews.TV