MANCAO'S SPEEDY RETURN PUSHED

THE Philippine government will ask the US State Department to arrange the immediate extradition of former Senior Supt. Cesar Mancao II to finally shed light on the killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000 after legal obstacles for his return have been removed.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the Department of Justice will request the Philippine embassy in Washington, D. C. to secure an order from the US authorities for Mancao’s return to the country.

Gonzalez made the statement after learning that Mancao has been cleared by a New Jersey court in Newark that is handling the separate request for extradition of former Senior Supt. Michael Ray Aquino, who is also a principal suspect in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case. 

“I talked to his lawyer (Arnedo Valera) and he said that the required deposition was already finished. He believes there are no more obstacles for the return of his client. But we have to respect US authorities,” the DOJ chief said.

Gonzalez admitted there is no official communications yet from federal authorities for the return of Mancao, but he expects the extradition of the former police officer soon. However, he declined to give a deadline.

According to him, Mancao will likely arrive in the country with his wife and his lawyer.  Nonetheless, he suggested to Mancao to limit as much as possible the number of family members who would return with him for security purposes.

“He will be given tight security (by the National Bureau of Investigation) because of his involvement in a high-profile case and circumstance surrounding it. Although there are no direct threats to his life, those can be assumed,” Gonzalez said. 

The DOJ chief also debunked insinuations that the re-reopening of the Dacer-Corbito double murder case is intended to persecute Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the former chief of Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), who allegedly ordered the killing of Dacer, according to Mancao.

“The accusation of persecution would be the best refuge of people who do not want to face the music anymore. There is nothing personal here. Mancao volunteered to testify. What would it make us if we didn’t entertain him?” he asked.

The Justice Secretary has already met with the special panel of prosecutors that would reinvestigate the double murder case. He said the special task force of the department handling cases of media killings would also join in the investigation.

Mancao’s extradition has been delayed by a legal action of Aquino who asked the Newark court to include Mancao and former Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao, also a suspect in the killing of Dacer and his driver, in the list of witnesses for his pending extradition case. 

The New Jersey court had earlier granted Aquino’s “emergent petition for writs of habeas corpus ad testificandum” asking US authorities to produce Mancao and Dumlao within 60 days through an order signed by Judge Esther Salas.