NBI tightens security, uses 'food taster' for Mancao

MANILA, Philippines - Tight security measures have been put in place for former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao II at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The NBI has commissioned a “food taster” to make sure that Mancao’s food will not be laced with poison while he is under their custody, according to lawyer Reynaldo Esmeralda, NBI Deputy Director for Regional Operations Services (DDROS).

Two bomb-sniffing dogs were also deployed 24 hours a day in Mancao’s room to prevent attempts to bomb the place.

A master list of who among NBI officials and personnel are allowed to visit Mancao was also drawn up.

NBI officials and personnel who are not included in the master list or list of visitors are not allowed to enter or go near his room.

More than a hundred armed NBI security personnel were also deployed in three shifts around the building.

Reporters and other media practitioners are currently banned from going near Mancao’s room.

Esmeralda declined to name the person who requested for the security arrangements.

Meanwhile, Maricar Mancao, wife of the former police official, is expected to arrive from the US in about a week’s time.

The NBI said that Mancao’s mother, Reynalda Mancao, and his siblings have either been staying with him in his room or have been visiting him everyday.

Gonzalez out, Devanadera in

Meanwhile, Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who has hinted that Mancao would turn state witness, is leaving the Department of Justice (DOJ) this Friday after forming a new panel of prosecutors that would handle the reinvestigation of the Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and Emmanuel Corbito double murder case.

Gonzalez has ordered Senior State Prosecutor Peter Ong, the same prosecutor who handled the investigation of the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case, as head of the panel with City Prosecutor Fidel Macauyag and State Prosecutor Mari Elvira Herrera as members.

Gonzalez will move to the Palace as chief presidential legal adviser before the preliminary investigation on the double murder case begins and pending arrival of former senior superintendent Glenn Dumlao, another of the main suspects being extradited from the US.

He said he has already discussed the case with his successor, outgoing Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera.

“We talked last Friday. She knows what I’d like to happen in this case more or less,” he said.

Gonzalez had earlier requested to remain at the DOJ pending reinvestigation of the Dacer-Corbito case because of his desire to pursue prosecution of the case after playing a key role in the return of Dumlao and Mancao.

But the Cabinet secretary realized that he could also help in the Dacer-Corbito case even in his capacity as chief legal counsel at the Palace.

Gonzalez also dismissed questions on the qualification of Mancao and Dumlao as state witnesses since, according to reports, suspects who were police officers at the time they allegedly committed the crime are disqualified from testifying for the government.

“That’s not the rule on state witnesses. That’s the rule on witness protection program – you can’t apply if you were a police officer during the commission of the crime. The only requirement for a state witness is that you should not be the most guilty of the crime. And both Mancao and Dumlao are qualified in this aspect,” he explained to reporters.

He clarified that Mancao is not under the witness protection program but only under protective custody of the government because of possible threats on his life, considering the gravity of his testimony in the case. – With Edu Punay