NBI to seek Lacson's removal from INTERPOL red notice list

National Bureau of Investigation director Magtanggol Gatdula is set to ask the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to remove Senator Panfilo Lacson from its red notice list. In a chance interview, Gatdula said he just met with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who instructed him to make such request to the INTERPOL. "There is already a directive to write a letter to the INTERPOL," Gatdula said. Asked whether it is to quash the issuance of a red notice against Lacson, Gatdula replied: "Yes." He declined to give more details. Lacson was placed on the INTERPOL'S red notice list in February last year, shortly after the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18 ordered his arrest. At the time, Lacson was reportedly hiding outside the country. (See: Lacson now on Interpol red notice list - NBI) When Lacson was placed on the list, the INTERPOL and its member-countries helped Philippine authorities track down the fugitive senator. Likewise, red notices allow the warrant of arrest issued against the person to be circulated worldwide with the request that the wanted person be arrested with a view to extradition. CA resolution The NBI's impending move to remove Lacson from the red notice list is in connection with the Court of Appeals' recent resolution that said the lifting of the arrest warrants against Lacson is immediately executory. The CA's Special Sixth Division held that only the Supreme Court can reinstate the arrest warrants that the Manila court issued against Lacson, the alleged mastermind in the killing of veteran publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito. Earlier in the day, De Lima said she will study the CA's latest ruling, which was only promulgated last Friday, March 18. De Lima said the DOJ has no choice but to defer to the CA ruling. "If that is what is decreed [by the Court of Appeals], then I would have no choice but to respect that because that is a court of law," she said. However, she said that the Justice department will still look into other legal remedies that can be exhausted against Lacson, such as seeking redress from the Supreme Court. "[Going to the Supreme Court] is not the only option. There might be other options. I'll try to get a copy within the day so I can tell you tomorrow the next course of action," she said. She added that if indeed the CA ruling is final and executory, Lacson may have to be removed from the INTERPOL red notice list already. "If it's true that he's out of the country, then I think that before he can really come back, the INTERPOL red notice needs to be lifted. Otherwise, if he is spotted, he can be arrested anytime," said De Lima. — RSJ, GMA News