Lacson not yet off the hook, says Mancao's US lawyer

CHICAGO – It will be premature for fugitive Sen. Panfilo “Ping" Lacson to claim that he is now beyond the reach of the law, a United States-based lawyer of former police officiaer Cezar Mancao said. Virginia-based lawyer Arnedo Valera expressed disappointment that the Philippine Court of Appeals (CA) on Thursday dismissed the double murder case lodged against Lacson for the Dacer-Corbito killings in 2000. In an 80-page ruling, the CA's Special Sixth Division reversed the two orders from the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18 that found probable cause to indict Lacson for the killings of publicist Salvador Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000. Valera said his client, Mancao, a state witness during the term of former President Gloria Arroyo, fears for his life and his family's safety. “It is like you are suddenly put in limbo. And I am sad for the families of Dacer and Corbito, who until now, are awaiting for justice to be meted," Valera said. In December last year, the CA denied the injunction filed by Lacson, thereby giving power to the Regional Trial Court Branch 18 in Manila to arrest Lacson and put him on trial for the Dacer-Corbito murders. In a sudden turn of events, however, the CA on Thursday said Mancao's testimony was weak and inconsistent and dismissed the double murder case lodged against him. The CA also revoked the arrest warrant the Manila court issued against Lacson, who has been in hiding since January last year. Earlier, Valera had told US media after his visit to the Philippines late last year, that he sensed that President Benigno Simeon Aquino's political allies are working hard to not see Lacson behind bars. Valera said Mancao's credibility is impeccable and that there are no internal inconsistencies in his testimony. "This is a temporary set back. We do not beg for justice, we have to fight for it," he said. Valera said he will work closely with the DOJ in filing a Motion for Reconsideration as the judgment is not final and executory. He added that the DOJ still has the repository power to conduct a reinvestigation. Valera will also recommend that the DOJ seeks the extradition of Michael Ray Aquino who can likewise shed light into the case. "What happened here is a pre-empting a fair trial and the process to seek truth and justice. What the people are waiting is for the truth to surface in a fair trial, where the innocence or guilt of accused on the merits will be established. But there should not be a double standard of justice," Valera said. "Madali sa walang lakas at walang kapangyarihan ang makulong, at napakahirap sa isang taong puno ng lakas at malapit sa kapangyarihan," he explained. (It is easy for those who have no power and have no clout to be in jail but not difficult for those who have power and near those in power.) – VVP GMANews.TV