Dacer lawyer: Senate should discipline fugitive Lacson

UPDATED 4:00 p.m. - Even though Senator Panfilo Lacson is presumed innocent until proven guilty for the Dacer-Corbito killings in 2000, the Senate should discipline the fugitive senator for supposedly failing to perform his legislative duties, a lawyer of the family of one of the victims said. Earlier on Monday, Lacson's lawyer criticized Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson for saying that the fugitive senator should first be expelled from the Senate before Congress expels his son, Ilocos Rep. Ronald Singson. Also on Monday, the lawyer of the Dacer family agreed that Lacson cannot be compared with Singson, who is facing drug-related charges in Hong Kong. Singson is reportedly set to plead guilty to the charges. However, lawyer Demetrio Custodio of the Dacer family said while Lacson insists that he is innocent, the Senate can still initiate disciplinary action against him. "I would like to say that the Senate should have taken disciplinary measures against an absentee member a long time ago and if the rules call for expulsion, then so be it," said Custodio in a text message. Lacson, who is facing double murder charges for the killings of veteran public relations man Salvador Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito, has been in hiding since January last year. He has repeatedly maintained his innocence and has tried but failed to nullify the Manila Regional Branch 18's arrest warrant against him. Lacson's lawyer, Poblador, said Lacson is still presumed innocent because the Manila court has yet to rule on whether Lacson is guilty or innocent. On the other hand, Rep. Singson will lose the presumption of innocence once he admits his guilt. "His (Ronald's) conviction will come as a matter of course. Unlike Lacson, therefore, he (Ronald) is vulnerable to calls for his ouster from the House," added Poblador. However, Custodio said Lacson's absence from the Senate should already merit disciplinary action against him. Also on Monday, Justice Sec. Leila de Lima said a possible expulsion threat against Lacson may compel the senator to evaluate his stance against surrendering to authorities. "As a matter of general proposition, that should compel him to rethink and re-examine his position to surface," De Lima told reporters. Ethics complaint vs Lacson Lacson is already facing an ethics complaint at the Senate. In September this year, advocacy group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption filed the complaint and said Lacson should be investigated by the Senate ethics panel for:

his failure to surrender himself to proper authorities;

fleeing the country to evade arrest; and

his continued absence from the Senate sessions. The VACC said Lacson may be guilty of abandoning office and violating Presidential Decree 1829 or the obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders, which are both penal offenses. Last year, the Senate suspended Lacson's salary amounting to P36,000 a month and office budget amounting P2 million a month. His employees have likewise been transferred to different departments in the Senate, mostly to the Office of the Senate Secretary. Despite this, however, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Lacson is still recognized as a senator of the republic and that his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) remains intact.– with Kim Tan, VVP, GMANews.TV