Mancao placed under Witness Protection Program
FORMER Senior Supt. Cesar Mancao II, one of the suspects in the killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000, has been placed under the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program, following his return to the country purportedly to testify for the prosecution.
Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera disclosed that she approved the application of Mancao for admission to the WPP on the basis of the significance of his testimony in the reopening of the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, and on threats against life and security.
“The requirement of the law (for the WPP) is that there must be the testimony and it must be very material (to the case). And there should also be a serious threat to his life and his family’s life. Mancao has met both criteria,” Devanadera said in an interview.
She explained that there is nothing wrong in putting Mancao under the WPP, clarifying a rule that prohibits police officers from availing of the protection program of DOJ.
The DOJ chief stressed there is nothing wrong with Mancao being covered by the WPP, as part of his offer to become a state witness in the case, saying “that is being done in all other cases.”
“I think this settles the issue on the National Bureau of Investigation’s continued custody of Mancao,” Devanadera said.
Mancao has been under protective custody of the NBI since his arrival last June 4 following his extradition from the United States where he stayed there for eight years since 2001.
While the Justice department has no definite time yet on the extradition of another suspect, former Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao who also intends to turn state witness, Devanadera said the reopening of the investigation into the Dacer-Corbito case will proceed. Dumlao has yet to comply with legal requirements in the US before he would be allowed to return to the country.
The acting Justice secretary said she has yet to hear from lawyers of Dumlao since the deadline for submission of Dumlao’s deposition to the extradition case of the third suspect, former Sr. Supt. Michael Ray Aquino, had lapsed last June 21.