DFA acting on request to cancel Lacson's passport — De Lima

The Department of Foreign Affairs is already in the process of responding to the request to cancel the passport of fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson. At a news briefing on Thursdsay, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the DFA has already asked Lacson's camp to answer the request filed by the family of slain publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer, whose killing the lawmaker is accused of masterminding. (See: Dacer family to ask DFA to cancel Lacson's passport) But De Lima refused to divulge further details, citing the confidentiality of the DFA's process of revoking passports. "I actually received a response from the DFA, but I'm counting a certain number of days before an announcement can be made," said De Lima. Lacson is the principal suspect in the killing of Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito, on Nov. 24, 200. He fled the country last January 5, two days before the previous Department of Justice leadership filed two counts of murder against him before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18. The National Bureau of Investigation, an attached agency of the DOJ, is tasked to trace Lacson's whereabouts. The bureau has tapped the International Criminal Police Organization, or Interpol, to issue a Red Notice against Lacson to facilitate his arrest. However, doubts have been cast on the NBI leadership because its new director, Magtanggol Gatdula, was Lacson's former subordinate at the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF). On Thursday, De Lima said she will speak with Gatdula to discuss why Lacson was able to communicate with his staff or lawyers recently. Lacson has just denied sending emissaries to pressure or offer bribes to former police Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II, a witness in the Dacer-Corbito killings. (See: Lacson denies bribing Mancao) — Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMANews.TV