'No information yet on Ping'

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday said there is no information yet on the exact location of Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Lawyer Claro de Castro Jr., chief of the NBI Interpol Division, said there is still no major development in their effort to find the fugitive lawmaker, but once the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) grants the motion to cancel Lacson’s passport, this would help in filing additional charges against the senator.

“In the event the court grants the motion, it would help once he is finally intercepted by our counterparts for reason of being in the Interpol’s red notice,” he said.

“Immigration officers of foreign countries would not immediately know if the passport is cancelled or not. The only time foreign countries would know about this is if our Philippine consulates are informed about his hold departure (order),” said De Castro.

He said this would be the only time Philippine consulates would inform foreign immigration officers that Lacson’s passport is cancelled.

The family of slain publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer last month appealed to the Manila RTC to order the cancellation of Lacson’s passport.