Palace insists: Order to review Lacson case not meddling with judiciary

Malacañang brushed aside claims that President Aquino’s order to the Justice Department to review alleged coercion in the double murder case against Sen. Panfilo Lacson is interfering with the judiciary. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino’s order extends only to the Department of Justice, which is under the Executive Department. “Right now the president is only ordering that particular component, the prosecution branch, let’s take a look at this case of Sen. Lacson given the allegations that Mr. Dumlao had stated," Lacierda said on government-run dzRB radio. Lacierda was referring to claims by former police colonel Glenn Dumlao was coerced into linking Lacson to the Dacer-Corbito double-murder case. Last Friday, Aquino called for a full review of the charges filed against Lacson, saying he would like to know if there was “fair treatment" of Lacson following Dumlao’s claims. Publicists Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito were allegedly killed in November 2000 by members of defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Task Force (PAOCTF), which was headed by Lacson as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief then. But Aquino also maintained his former Senate colleague will not get special treatment under his administration. Dumlao claimed government lawyers led by Assistant State Prosecutor Hazel Valdez had forced him to tag Lacson in the murders. Valdez denied Dumlao’s allegations. Lacierda said Aquino’s order is “not interference" because the DOJ still has a say in the prosecution of the case. — LBG, GMANews.TV