Ping to Detractors: Are You Saying US Justice System Is As Corrupt As RP System?

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Tuesday cautioned the Department of Justice against making insinuations that the US justice system is being manipulated to delay the return of former Senior Superintendents Cezar Mancao II and Glenn Dumlao.

"Are they saying the US justice system is as corrupt as ours?" Lacson said as he criticized anew allegations that he is behind the delay in the extradition of the two former police officers. He reiterated he, too, wants Mancao and Dumlao to return to the country soonest to shed light on the Dacer-Corbito case.

Lacson made the observation following repeated innuendoes made by the Department of Justice and other quarters that he is trying to delay the return of Mancao and Dumlao..

"Does it also mean I, an individual senator, carry more influence than the entire Philippine government, as far as the US justice system is concerned?" he asked.

He said that in the US, the government respects the rights of people - including non-US citizens - to seek redress and assert their rights.

Lacson’s lawyer Alex Avisado said the letter-complaint lodged by Dacer’s family last week, which was based on Mancao’s affidavit, has no legal weight.  "It is uncorroborated and therefore mere hearsay",he said.

"No formal complaint has been filed against me, yet Justice Secretary Gonzalez is making it appear I am already charged", Lacson added.

Avisado said they had planned on filing perjury charges against the Dacer sisters for making the allegations, but Lacson shot down the idea, because he said the Dacers, like him, are also victims of the circumstances.