Lacson: Recent Developments on Dacer-Corbito Case Unmasking Persecution vs Me

Recent revelations in the Dacer-Corbito double murder are slowly but surely unmasking administration attempts to use the case to persecute him, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Friday.

With the developments, Lacson voiced hopes the Department of Justice will finally wake up to the reality that the preliminary investigation it is pursuing against him is irrelevant.

“I now believe the saying ‘The truth shall set us free.’ It is becoming clear the efforts to link me to the case stemmed from Malacañang, through then Presidential Security Group chief Romeo Prestoza,” he said.

“I hope the DOJ wakes up and realizes its preliminary investigation against me is irrelevant,” he added.

On Thursday, former police Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II testified before a Manila court that Prestoza, then a colonel heading the Presidential Security Group (PSG), offered him financial support and relocation abroad in exchange for fabricated statements against Lacson.

Mancao admitted that while he was in the United States in September 2007, a man claiming to be Prestoza called him up and offered him financial support and relocation in Singapore.

Prestoza also offered Mancao education support for his children, all in exchange for false statements against Lacson, but Mancao refused the offers.

Lacson also noted earlier this year he received a text message from Mancao in January 2008 detailing Prestoza’s offer. Lacson said Mancao even told him to “Sleep soundly, sir.”

Also earlier this week, former police Senior Superintendent Glenn Dumlao said in a television interview former President Joseph Estrada was behind the murders.

“This administration is using all foul and underhanded tactics to silence me for exposing its sins. But those had failed to stop me then, they will not stop me now. I will continue to investigate the sins that Mrs. Arroyo and her family have committed against the nation,” Lacson said.