Priest-killer Norberto Manero, who was granted executive clemency for his crime, belied reports yesterday that he has gone into hiding to evade arrest on charges of kidnapping and double murder.
"I am not a fugitive and I am not hiding," a teary-eyed Manero told reporters at Camp Crame where he was presented to the media by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson.
Accompanied by lawyer Ruben Platon, Manero reportedly turned himself in at Lacson's office Friday night.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) launched earlier a manhunt for Manero following his failure to surrender in connection with a 19-year-old arrest warrant issued by a South Cotabato judge for the alleged abduction and murder of two brothers.
"I have not gone into hiding. From what I know, I am now a free man. How did those cases come out? I am here to straighten the wrong accusations against me," Manero said in the vernacular.
Lacson said the manhunt for Manero was recalled after Quezon City Mayor Ismael Mathay Jr. and retired Col. Rafael Galvez informed him that the pardoned prisoner refused to give himself up to the NBI.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) had directed the PNP to help in the manhunt for Manero in connection with the alleged kidnapping and murder of Ali and Mambawatan Mamalumpong in 1977.
Platon clarified that Manero has not fled and was staying at the same address in Quezon City, nor has the killer of Italian priest Fr. Tullio Favali violated the conditions of his pardon.
The lawyer also asked journalists to stop calling his client a "cannibal" even as he threatened to file criminal charges against those who will insist on calling Manero a "man-eater."
"Such accusation is very damaging. From now on, we will not hesitate to sue anybody who will call him a cannibal or man-eater," he stressed.
Platon added that he would file a petition tomorrow with the General Santos City Regional Trial Court for the nullification of the arrest warrant.
"There was no case raffled by the Court of First Instance of General Santos City. My client was unaware of any charges. It's been 23 years... why only now?" Platon said.
Manero expressed confidence he could clear his name and enjoy his new found freedom. He thanked President Estrada for granting him conditional pardon.
Lacson said agents of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force will escort Manero in an early morning plane flight to General Santos today.
Meanwhile, opposition Rep. Rolando Andaya of Camarines Sur said the President should continue granting executive clemency to deserving prisoners.
"Not all criminals are in the mold of Manero. It will be wrong to typecast Manero as representative of the whole prison population. He's more of the exception rather than the rule," Andaya pointed out.
He also said not all prisoners were murder convicts, citing as example movie actor Robin Padilla who served time at the state prison for illegal possession of firearms.
Andaya also said the Board of Pardons and Parole should be more transparent and insulated from irregularities to prevent a repetition of the Manero snafu.
For his part, Tarlac Rep. Benigno Aquino III appealed to Malacañang to be "very cautious" in granting parole and pardon to prisoners, saying laxity might lead to the release of the convicted killers of his father, former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.
Mr. Estrada is expected to grant conditional pardon to 113 prisoners on his 63rd birthday on April 19.
The President has admitted he was unaware that Manero's name was included in the list of some 500 prisoners due for release in line with the traditional Christmas pardon.
The release triggered outrage among the country's powerful Catholic church leaders, forcing the President to sack Justice Secretary Serafin Cuevas.
Catholic bishops also urged Mr. Estrada to recall the pardon of Manero, saying the 54-year-old convict has not shown remorse for his crime and could go after prosecution witnesses who helped in his conviction.
Manero, who spent 11 years in jail for the 1985 murder of Favali in Tulunan town in North Cotabato, may face trial for the murder of the Mamalumpong brothers.
Also ordered arrested were Manero's wife Leonarda, brother Artemio and a certain Larry Gonzaga.
The case was formally filed only after three years, when three of the suspects were already detained for the Favali killing.
The judge reportedly archived the case after the suspects escaped from detention in 1981. -- With Liberty Dones, AFP report