Mancao not allowed to leave safehouse – NBI

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Thursday that former Police Senior Supt. Cezar Mancao III, who has been linked in the abduction and killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000, is barred from leaving his safehouse except while attending trials.

This was disclosed by Regional Director Ric Diaz, chief of the NBI Anti-Terrorism Division (ATD) and concurrent spokesperson for the Dacer-Corbito case, as he explained that Mancao remains an accused.

“Being an accused, he remains restricted in his safehouse. He is not allowed to leave the safehouse except while attending trials,” Diaz said.

At present, Diaz said they are still waiting for the decision of Judge Myra V. Garcia-Fernandez of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 18 whether Mancao will be removed or not from the list of the accused.

“But once Mancao becomes a state witness, and it depends on the decision of the court, then Mancao will no longer be under restriction,” he said.

Diaz said the safehouse of Mancao is being guarded by NBI operatives 24 hours, round-the-clock.

He said Mancao is occupying a safehouse with two small bedrooms, one comfort room and one very small sala.

He added the NBI is solely providing security for Mancao.

Mancao and his fellow accused, former Police Supt. Glenn Dumlao, have yet to see each other, according to Diaz.

Preparations are already in place to secure Mancao when he attends trial on Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. at the sala of Fernandez. The NBI will also secure Dumlao during his arraignment on Aug. 26.

Mancao was transferred to the Department of Justice–Witness Protection Program’s safehouse last July 25, a day before Dumlao’s arrival from the United States.

Dumlao, who was extradited from the US to face trial in the November 2000 abduction and slay of Dacer and Corbito, is being held at the NBI detention room at the NBI main office in Manila.

Dumlao’s arraignment was deferred to Aug. 26, while Mancao pleaded not guilty to the charges of double murder during his arraignment on June 30.