Bentain family disappointed with latest Lacson speech

The family of Edgar Bentain left the Senate disappointed after listening to Senator Panfilo Lacson’s latest privilege speech Tuesday afternoon. “Gusto niya, leverage na hindi mo malaman… Parang leverage ang hinahanap niya, kaya nambibitin e. Sana black and white kung meron, para dalhin na lang sa korte," Edcel Bentain, Edgar’s brother, told reporters. (He seems to be just looking for some leverage, I don’t know… that’s why he’s holding back. I wish he’d say so in black and white, if he has the evidence, and just bring it to court.) Edcel and Edgar’s 13-year old son Noel were accompanied to the Senate by chairman Dante Jimenez of Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC). Bentain was a video operator of the Casino Filipino where then Vice President Joseph "Erap" Estrada played baccarat, a high-stakes card game. Bentain was said to have passed an unflattering video of the former president to former film censors chief Manuel Morato, a noted anti-Erap critic, who used it as an issue against Estrada.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Edcel found Lacson’s speech inadequate on the disappearance and presumed death of his brother. “Kailangan i-elaborate pa, pahabain pa, palawakin pa, tapos idocument pa at gawing public document. Hindi (kami makukuntento) hangga’t hindi nakararating sa korte," he said. (He should elaborate, augment, expand its scope, then further document it and make it a public document. We won’t be satisfied until the case is brought to court.) He said the only new information they heard in Lacson’s speech was that their brother was killed in Laguna. “Nagulat kami. Before, Cavite nang Cavite, sumulpot si (Ador) Mawanay, naging Pampanga (We were surprised. They were saying before that he was killed in Cavite, but when Mawanay surfaced, it became Pampanga)," Bentain said. Edcel asked the police officer mentioned in Lacson’s speech to coordinate with them and help give justice to their brother. “Kung kaya niya humarap sana sa amin, sabihin lang niya. Kung alam niya kung saan inilibing, sabihin sa amin, makipagcoordinate sa amin nang sikreto, or gusto niya public, para maka-avail ng Witness Protection Program," Bentain said. (If he can meet us face to face us, he should let us know. If he knew where Edgar is buried, he should let us know, coordinate with us in secret, or in public if he wants, so he can avail of the Witness Protection Program.) Among the bombshells that Lacson exploded in his privilege speech Tuesday, he disclosed that a police officer, whom he did not name, reported “mission accomplished" to Estrada a day after Bentain was abducted and then killed in January 1999. “This much I can share, in the meantime, to our distinguished colleagues, the family of Mr. Bentain and the Filipino people. Sometime in the middle of January, 1999, one day after Edgar Bentain was abducted somewhere in Roxas Blvd. and killed somewhere in Laguna, a police officer went to Estrada's house on Polk Street in Greenhills, San Juan, and reported compliance of his mission. He said the "house occupant" - meaning Estrada - simply said, "Sige, sabihin mo sa mga bata, maraming salamat (Okay, tell the boys thank you very much)," he said. Lacson, however, did not give more details of the incident, saying that his own investigation is ongoing. The former national police chief-turned-senator explained that he did not identify the criminal “simply because I did not have any participation or direct personal knowledge of these criminal activities while they were taking place years ago." “But I have gathered enough facts and data to provide the useful leads to unmask the mastermind’s true identity and his active participation including other persons who were barely mentioned in the conduct of investigation," Lacson added. - GMANews.TV