Palace hits Lacson lawyer over ‘innuendos’

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Sunday lashed back at the camp of Sen. Panfilo Lacson for accusing the Arroyo administration of implicating the senator to the killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby" Dacer and Emmanuel Corbito in 2000. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde also dubbed as “innuendos" the allegation of Lacson’s lawyer that Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza might have a hand in the supposed leak of former Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II’s affidavit. “Prestoza is not a Malacañang official. To insist that Malacañang is behind is pure and simple squid tactics. Let the [pieces of] evidence speak for themselves and let the accused controvert them," Remonde said in a text message to GMANews.TV. Earlier in the day, Lacson's lawyer, Alex Avisado, said the latest developments in the Dacer-Corbito case, including the “leak" of Mancao’s affidavit, is part of a “telenovela" directed by Prestoza and produced by Malacañang. Avisado said Prestoza phoned Mancao last year, which Mancao reportedly informed Lacson. Mancao supposedly told Lacson that Prestoza promised him reinstatement and promotion if he implicated Lacson in the abduction and killing of Dacer and Corbito. Avisado said they are confident that the public would not be fooled by Malacañang's efforts to demolish Lacson, who had been extremely critical of the administration. He also called on Dacer’s relatives not to allow themselves to be exploited by the Arroyo administration. “Huwag sila magpapagamit sa gobyerno, huwag haluan ng pulitika ang kanilang paghanap sa katotohanan [They should not let government exploit them, particularly in their search for truth]," he said. - GMANews.TV