NBI still securing Mancao in Witness Protection Program safehouse

MANILA, Philippines - Former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao III is still being held by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in a safehouse under the Witness Protection Program (WPP).

NBI anti-terrorism chief Ricardo Diaz said they made sure that Mancao would be secure to fulfill his role as a state witness in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

Diaz said he was tasked to personally oversee the security of Mancao, who was accepted as a state witness by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Mancao was among the principal accused in the murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

The former police official had agreed to turn state witness against his co-accused and identify the brains behind the slaying.

While in the US awaiting his extradition to the Philippines, Mancao executed an affidavit naming his former police boss, now Sen. Panfilo Lacson, as among the principal suspects in the killing. Lacson had denied the allegations

Diaz said Mancao is still considered as an accused, and he has yet to be removed from the list of the accused in the case.

“He is still under restriction while the court order that may remove him from the list of the accused is being awaited,” he said.

Diaz, however, refused to give details on the number of personnel securing Mancao in the safe house.

According to Diaz, only NBI agents are allowed to secure Mancao.

Diaz explained the NBI has been tasked to secure Mancao to ensure his appearance for court hearings.

The trial resumes on Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 18.

Diaz said Mancao and his co-accused, former police superintendent Glenn Dumlao, have not seen each other.

Dumlao, who also agreed to turn state witness, was extradited from the US, more than a month after Mancao arrived in the Philippines.

Diaz admitted the NBI is finding it difficult to secure the two former police officials. Mancao had wanted to move to a more secure place before Dumlao arrived.

If Dumlao is also accepted as a witness, Diaz said the he would be put under the Witness Protection Program.

“That is the law. If he is not, then he should be in jail,” he said.

Diaz explained the NBI has to secure both former police officials since they are both “willing to tell all.”

He said Dumlao has already made three statements detailing the murders. The first was a handwritten affidavit.

“He first gave a statement, and he applied as a state witness. But the Supreme Court denied this. The Supreme Court said a law enforcement officer couldn’t be a government witness. Then Dumlao fled to the United States. But now, he is not a law enforcer anymore, therefore, he could apply as a state witness,” Diaz pointed out.

Dumlao’s arraignment last July 30 was moved to Aug. 26 after lawyers urged the Manila regional trial court to further study the case.

Lawyers Rogelio Agoot and Cesar Brillantes said they moved for the deferment of the arraignment, claiming that their client was again included in the charge sheet.

Agoot said the court allowed 30 days to review the case and file the appropriate pleading. He said Dumlao could be called as an ordinary witness.

Agoot said Dumlao couldn’t decline if he would be called to testify in court about the murders.  

“He (Dumlao) has a duty, he could be called by the prosecution to be a witness, otherwise we could be cited for contempt,” Agoot said.

Brillantes, for his part, said they only read last July 29 the amended information and they wanted to make some clarifications as to why Dumlao was included among the accused.

Brillantes said they filed a petition urging the Supreme Court to order the exclusion of Dumlao as an accused.

According to Brillantes, the DOJ already made a resolution excluding Dumlao in the charge sheet.