Lacsons speak up, seek evidence vs Ping

MANILA, Philippines –  Members of the family of Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday defended the fugitive lawmaker, saying the investigators and the judge handling the case must find the evidence before establishing “probable cause.”

The Lacson family released a statement entitled “In Defense of Our Family’s Honor,” sent to reporters, defending the senator from accusations of masterminding the murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

Romulo Lacson, Feliciano Lacson, Reynaldo Lacson, Juanito Lacson, Ma. Corazon Lacson-Magpayo, Ernani Lacson and Ma. Cristina Lacson-Diaz said the affidavit and sworn statement of one witness could not be considered probable cause in implicating their brother.

The Lacson siblings cited in particular the statements of former police Senior Superintendent Cesar Mancao who claimed to have overheard Lacson ordering Michael Ray Aquino to silence Dacer while they were in a car.

“To establish probable cause, the investigators and the judge must find the evidence credible. It must lead a reasonable person to believe that the person being accused committed a crime,” the Lacsons said.

“We believe that a careful consideration of the following facts will lead a reasonable person to a conclusion that Mancao’s allegation in his affidavit was a fabrication and an absolute lie,” they said.

The Lacson siblings cited the testimony of the supposed driver of the car, Reynaldo Oximoso, who denied overhearing such conversation between Lacson and Aquino.

Oximoso also denied the claims of Mancao that he was seated in the front seat of the car. He said that there was never a time that Lacson, Aquino and Mancao rode together in a car.

The Lacsons said Mancao unwittingly proved his own affidavit to be a fabrication and a lie, indicating that such conversation in the car never took place.

The Lacsons also pointed to several inconsistencies in the affidavit of Mancao that could have linked the senator to the murders.

They also cited the testimony of former Superintendent Glenn Dumlao, who said Lacson is innocent of the crime.

They said Dumlao had claimed having been tortured to implicate Lacson in the murders.

“In spite of very weak evidence to support its case, the previous DOJ (Department of Justice secretary) filed the complaint. The court issued a warrant for Ping’s arrest during the closing stage of the previous administration whose corrupt ways he exposed in many privilege speeches,” the Lacsons said.

“In our last Christmas together, Ping already told us of frantic moves of the previous administration to have an arrest warrant against him. He told us to take comfort in the fact that he had nothing to do with that crime,” they said.

They defended Lacson for becoming “inaccessible” after the warrant for his arrest came out.

“Ping decided to become inaccessible. That was his personal decision. We understand that it had nothing to do with guilt or cowardice. He had enough information to base it on,” they said.

The siblings said Lacson tried to avoid being “a victim of an evil conspiracy to put him away because of his anti-graft and corruption crusade.”

“Self-preservation is a natural human instinct. He did not regard letting evil triumph as an act of decency,” they said.

They said in the case filed against Lacson, evidence is not only weak but was also fabricated.

They said one affidavit with a conflicting story by a witness of “doubtful credibility” against multiple exonerating affidavits and statements calls for a reinvestigation of the case.

“Therefore, we are extremely puzzled why DOJ Secretary (Leila) De Lima continues to ignore calls for a reinvestigation of this case. According to the DOJ secretary’s interviews, she is waiting for additional evidence to start such a reinvestigation,” they said.

“If the foregoing facts are not enough, we do not know what else would justify a reinvestigation. We can only guess that public prosecutors at the DOJ who had a hand in filing this case are giving her the wrong counsel,” the family said.