Lacson says Michael Ray in high spirits during his visit

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Panfilo Lacson disclosed yesterday that he visited his protegé, former police superintendent Michael Ray Aquino, at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila last Sunday, and Aquino was in high spirits during their meeting.

Lacson said Aquino was with his parents and siblings when he visited the NBI detention cell. He said that it would be better for Aquino to be detained at the NBI headquarters than at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center due to reported threats on his life.

Lacson, however, said the court would decide where Aquino will be safe.

“I will leave it up to the courts. The court has already issued an order for his continued detention at the NBI,” he added.

Aquino, a known protegé of Lacson during their days at the PNP and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), was tagged as one of the principal suspects in the double murder of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

Aquino has denied any involvement in the Dacer-Crobito killings and also cleared Lacson of any involvement the crime. 

Lacson was initially named as the mastermind in the double murder but he was cleared by the Court of Appeals.