NBI seeks extradition of cops in Dacer slay

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is seeking the extradition of two former police officials hiding in the US so they can face murder charges in connection with the slaying of publicist Salvador "Bubby’ Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

In a letter sent to the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco said Superintendents Michael Ray Aquino and Cesar Mancao II are undocumented and undesirable aliens in the US and should be deported to the Philippines.

The two former ranking police officials were linked to the Nov. 24, 2000 kidnap-slaying of Dacer and Corbito.

Superintendent Glenn Dumlao was among the first batch of suspects in the Dacer-Corbito killings but the Department of Justice has asked the court to exclude him in the case after he indicated his willingness to cooperate in the arrest and prosecution of the other accused.

To avoid prosecution, Mancao and Aquino fled abroad shortly after the failed siege at Malacañang on May 1, 2001 by supporters of jailed former President Joseph Estrada.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, in a memorandum dated Aug. 7, 2001, included Mancao and Aquino in its "lookout list." The NBI said the travel documents of Aquino and Mancao have been cancelled.

Aquino was a holder of Philippine passport number GG210648 issued on Sept. 12, 2000 while Mancao’s passport control number was OF009062 issued on March 10, 1999.

At the same time, the NBI asked the Supreme Court to resolve whether or not Aquino and Mancao should be among those charged with double murder.

The SC has yet to officially include Aquino and Mancao in the charge sheet but the DOJ is pushing for their inclusion based on claims by witnesses.