Lacson camp seeks reinvestigation of Dacer-Corbito murder case

The camp of Senator Panfilo Lacson has asked the Department of Justice for a reinvestigation of the Dacer-Corbito murder case in light of "new evidence" they claim would exonerate the fugitive lawmaker. In a letter to Justice Secretrary Leila De Lima dated November 17, Lacson's lawyers Alexander Poblador and Joseph Joemer Perez said two new affidavits will debunk Cezar Mancao II's claims that he had heard Lacson and former police officer Michael Ray Aquino talking about the purported plan to "neutralize or liquidate" publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer. Lacson's lawyers explained that Mancao had claimed in his Feb. 13, 2009 affidavit that the persons present during the alleged conversation were himself, Lacson, Aquino, and SPO4 Reynaldo Oximoso, Jr. However, they said the Aug. 2, 2010 affidavit of Oximoso belied Mancao's claim that there was such a conversation. They likewise said that Aquino, in his Aug. 9, 2010 affidavit, denied that Lacson ordered him to "liquidate" any person as alleged by Mancao. (See: Ex-aide clears Lacson in Dacer-Corbito killings) "These two new affidavits (as well as Dumlao’s Aug. 2, 2010 affidavit) are important pieces of exculpatory evidence which demolish whatever credibility Mancao’s allegation has... These new exculpatory evidence warrant, at the very least, a reinvestigation of the case," said Lacson's lawyers. 'Dumalo did not implicate Lacson' The lawyers also said the two affidavits support the Jan. 28, 2010 statement of prosecution witness Glenn Dumlao that Lacson had nothing to do with the crime. They added that contrary to Mancao's assertion, Dumlao's exoneration of the senator was not a "turnaround" from his previous testimony. "The truth is that while Dumlao has implicated others, he has never implicated Sen. Lacson in the Dacer-Corbito case," they said. Mancao, Aquino and Dumlao worked under Lacson in the now defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), the unit that allegedly carried out the twin killings. Poblado and Perez said that they had also earlier asked the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 for a similar reinvestigation. "As we have told the court, there is a compelling need to conduct a reinvestigation so that these new evidence can be properly considered at the soonest possible time, instead of waiting for the trial proper," they said. On Sunday, Lacson's siblings issued a statement also appealing for a reinvestigation of the case. (See: Ping Lacson siblings appeal for reinvestigation of charges) "Being away from home and from loved ones is one of the worst situations to be in. Our wish is for our brother to spend a quiet Christmas dinner with us, like what most Filipinos do, at home," they said in a statement. Signing the statement were Lacson’s siblings Romulo, Feliciano, Reynaldo, Juanito, Ma. Corazon Lacson-Magpayo, Ernani Lacson, and Ma. Cristina Lacson-Diaz. Arrest warrant On January 7 this year, the DOJ filed two counts of murder against Lacson before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18. However, the senator had already fled the country two days before he was indicted. A month later, the Manila court, then presided by Judge Myra Garcia-Fernandez, issued the arrest warrant against Lacson. Lacson's lawyers then asked the court to cancel the warrant and order the DOJ to review the murder case. Last July, the court, now under Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina, junked Lacson's plea and said the arrest warrant remains standing. The Manila court also ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel Lacson's passport to limit his movements abroad. In August, the DFA cancelled his regular and diplomatic passports because he was deemed a "fugitive from justice" as provided by the Philippine Passport Act of 2010. Lacson then elevated the matter to the CA, which did not grant his appeal to block the enforcement of the warrant against him. The Senate has suspended Lacson's salary and office budget. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMANews.TV