No information that Lacson is in the country, NBI says

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has yet to validate information that fugitive Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is facing murder charges, is already in the country. Outgoing NBI director Atty. Nestor Mantaring was prompted to make this statement after reports said that Lacson already sent surrender feelers to certain officials. “There is no validation that the senator is already in the country and as far as NBI is concerned, the last tracking is that he is in Rome," Mantaring said. The senator, who was reportedly involved in the twin killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, was supposedly ready to surrender to Mantaring’s replacement, retired Philippine National Police (PNP) official Magtanggol Gatdula. Besides being the choice of President Benigno Aquino III, Gatdula is one of the officers who served under Lacson, who used to be the head of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force. Gatdula, who headed the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), is also a lawyer. Gatdula is expected to formally assume his post as NBI director in the next few days, replacing Mantaring who was promoted from inside the bureau. Meanwhile, Mantaring released the statement on Friday to deny persistent reports that Lacson — who said that he was being persecuted by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo — will surrender to Gatdula. The other day, newly-installed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Lacson was already expressing his intentions to surrender. Lacson’s surrender feelers were not directly sent to her but to other individuals whose identities she refused to divulge. Lacson, who is in the Interpol’s Red Notice in connection with the killings, may be sentenced to a maximum of life imprisonment under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code if found guilty. - RJAB Jr./LBG, GMANews.TV