I'M AFRAID OF PING – MANCAO

FORMER Senior Supt. Cesar Mancao II is wary of Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, but vowed to reveal the truth in the Dacer-Corbito case by testifying for the government.

“It’s about time. Itong bago ako mahuli, humingi din naman ako ng tulong. Wala naman akong maasahan na [I asked for help, but my request was ignored. I don’t expect any assistance from them],” said Mancao, referring to failed attempts by the former cop to secure the help of his boss at the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).

He said he regretted standing by the people whom he had respected, but eventually abandoned him in the US, prompting the former police officer to return to the country and identify the brains in the double murder case.

The former police official, who will testify for the government in the reopening of the Dacer-Corbito case, revealed how he and his fellow main suspect, former Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao, suffered while in the US hiding from prosecution in their involvement in the double murder.

Mancao said it was “very difficult” surviving in the US, recalling that Dumlao even resorted to roadside construction works just to sustain his expenses.

Mancao’s extradition to the country paved the way for the Department of Justice to form a three-man panel of prosecutors to conduct a new preliminary investigation into the killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000. 

After meeting with Mancao for about an hour at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters yesterday, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Mancao’s testimony will only prove that the allegation of “political persecution of some opposition figures” through the reopening of the double murder case has no basis at all.

“We did not manufacture these stories. We never solicited Mancao and Dumlao. They volunteered their testimonies to the government and we just want to know the truth so we are helping them,” the DOJ chief said.

To ferret out the truth, Gonzalez said he has reorganized the panel of prosecutors that will handle the reinvestigation of the Dacer-Corbito case.

The DOJ secretary designated as chairman of the panel Senior State Prosecutor Peter Ong, the same prosecutor who handled the investigation of the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case where Lacson was also implicated.

Ong said they have yet to assign other members of the panel since they would have to await the arrival of Dumlao anyway.

The new panel replaces the old one composed of Senior State Prosecutor Phillip Kimpo, State Prosecutor Hazel Valdez, Asst. Provincial Prosecutor Cielito Luyun and Prosecution Attorney John Benedict Medina.

Gonzalez explained that Mancao would remain an accused until he is discharged by the Regional Trial Court to become a state witness against his co-accused.