Govt lawyers want reinvestigation of Dacer-Corbito case

Government lawyers did not file with the Supreme Court any petition challenging the Court of Appeals' decision that dismissed the double murder case against Sen. Panfilo Lacson. Instead, they will advice Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to order a reinvestigation of the Nov. 24, 2000 killing of veteran publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, of which Lacson is the primary suspect. The Department of Justice (DOJ) had only until Tuesday to question the CA ruling ordering the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18 to drop the case against Lacson and revoke the arrest warrants issued against him. In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz said his office made such decision so that the DOJ may gather more evidence against Lacson. "We will not file a motion for extension of time, or a petition for review because we are afraid that it will suffer the same fate as what happened in the Court of Appeals. Instead, we'll tell the DOJ to reinvestigate to get new evidence in the Dacer-Corbito case. We think there might be a better chance there," said Cadiz. Cadiz said he has yet to speak with De Lima to discuss the matter. De Lima had earlier said she is more inclined to order a reinvestigation of the twin killings following the CA ruling. Last March 18, the CA affirmed its Feb. 3 ruling and said the nullification of Lacson's arrest warrants is final and executory. Dacers take case to SC While the public prosecutors (DOJ, represented by Office of the Solicitor General) have not sought any relief from the SC, the private prosecutors (lawyers for the Dacer family) sought legal remedy from the highest tribunal in the land. Last Monday, the lawyers from Ongkiko Manhit Custodio and Accorda law offices filed their 93-page petition for review seeking the reversal of the CA ruling. The CA issued such a ruling on the basis that former police officer Cezar Mancao II, Lacson's former subordinate at the Philippine National Police, was not a credible witness. But the Dacers' lead counsel, Demetrio Custodio, said even without Mancao's testimony, there is still probable cause to prosecute Lacson for the Dacer-Corbito killings. "The petition questions the ruling of the Court of Appeals, where they said that because the credibility of Mancao is suspect, there's no probable cause. But our position is that even if you take away the statement of Mancao, there is still enough evidence to establish probable cause," Custodio said. Lacson has repeatedly denied involvement in the Dacer-Corbito murders. - KBK, GMA News