BW scam, Estrada impeachment caused Dacer murder - Dumlao

MANILA, Philippines - Two of the motives behind the killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer in November 2000 might have been due to the victim’s knowledge of the BW Resources scam and the media financier in the impeachment proceedings of former President Joseph Estrada, a lawyer of one of the witnesses said.

Defense lawyer Dante David made the statement Thursday based on the testimony of witness former police superintendent Glenn Dumlao before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 18 presided over by Judge Myra Garcia-Fernandez.

“Based on my cross-examination, I was able to establish that there is a better motive between Sen. Panfilo Lacson and a former President. According to Dumlao, yung mga documents he was able to retrieve from Mr. Bubby Dacer were burned,” David said.

Dumlao presumed that those documents, if made public might be damaging against Estrada, he added.

David said it was Dumlao who was allegedly ordered by former senior superintendent Michael Ray Aquino to conduct a “tactical interrogation” of Dacer inside a van in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

He said Aquino told Dumlao to ask Dacer about BW Resources and who was financing the media about the impeachment proceedings against Estrada.

David said it is up to the family of Dacer whether to file a case against Estrada. David and lawyer Alex Avisado, representing Lacson, cross-examined Dumlao in court.

“He (Dumlao) had no personal knowledge on the abduction and the disposal of their bodies. The testimony only centered on the instruction given by Michael Ray Aquino,” said David.

Asked if he told Mancao about the instruction of Aquino, Dumlao said he kept it to himself because it was “a special operation and secret instructions.”

Aquino is still in the United States facing extradition proceedings.   – Sandy Araneta