Palace hopes for closure to Dacer case with Michael Ray's return

Malacañang on Sunday expressed hopes for closure to the 11-year-old Dacer-Corbito double murder case with the return to the Philippines of former police Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace wants closure not only for those involved but also for the families of the victims – veteran publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. “We hope his return will bring us one step closer to the resolution of the Dacer-Corbito double murder case. Matagal na nakabinbin ito... and for the sake of those involved and for the sake of the family sana magkaroon ng closure," she said on government-run dzRB radio. Amid tight security, Aquino was escorted back to the Philippines after staying in the United States for more than 10 years. He is now detained in a facility at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters in Manila. In his statement, Aquino said he did not receive any order from former President Joseph Estrada or from now-Senator Panfilo Lacson to abduct, harm or even kill Dacer and his driver Corbito. Valte noted the NBI had already assured it will take every effort to secure Aquino. But she declined to say if Michael Ray Aquino’s statement “clearing" Estrada and Lacson would affect the case. “The proper venue for that would be the courts," she said. When asked if Aquino’s statement would have an impact on the Justice Department’s investigation of the case, Valte said, “I’ll let Secretary (Leila) de Lima answer that one." — LBG, GMA News