Dacer family files complaint vs Lacson over twin killings

(Updated 4:17 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - The family of slain publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer on Friday formally lodged a complaint against Senator Panfilo Lacson regarding the killing of Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez made the announcement following the submission of the complaint-affidavit by the Dacer family's lawyers from the Ongkiko, Mahit, Custodia, and Acorda law firm earlier in the day. Those who signed the affidavit were siblings Emily Dacer-Hungerford, Sabina Dacer-Reyes, Carina Lim-Dacer, and Amparo Dacer-Henson. The sworn statement was executed before the consul-general in New York last March 23. "This is the formal complaint against Senator Lacson. The filing would now accelerate the opening of the case," Gonzalez said. One of the bases of the complaint was the Feb. 14, 2009 affidavit of former police Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II, who pointed to Lacson and former President Joseph Estrada as the ones behind the double-murder. Mancao was the head of Task Group Luzon of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) at the time of the killings, which occurred during Estrada's term. Lacson was then Philippine National Police chief and PAOCTF head. In a press statement, Lacson insisted that the Dacer family was wrong in implicating him on the unresolved case. "While I respect the right of the Dacer family to find justice under our criminal justice system, they are gravely mistaken and being misguided with their recent action. In their desire to seek justice, they will be committing a more serious injustice by implicating me to the crime," Lacson said. Both Lacson and Estrada had repeatedly denied involvement in the case. According to Gonzalez, the DOJ will begin its preliminary investigation hearings in connection with the complaint against Lacson once Mancao returns to the country. Gonzalez said he hopes to get a feedback soon from Bureau of Corrections chief Oscar Calderon, who is in the US to keep watch over Mancao's extradition. When asked whether Estrada will also be implicated, Gonzalez said that will depend on what will happen during the hearings. He said that if the allegations against Estrada are found to be sufficient, then the former president might be included as a respondent in the complaint. - GMANews.TV