MANILA, Philippines - An official of a religious group on Friday called on fugitive former Police Supt. Cezar Mancao to surrender to authorities and face the charges against him before the court.
Father Marlon Lacal, executive secretary of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines, said that a threat on Mancao's life is not enough reason for him to bolt the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.
"Hindi rason na may threat ang kanyang buhay, may kasalanan siyang ginawa na dapat niyang harapin dapat nga noon pa siya inilipat sa ordinary cell. He had to face the music, he has to face the consequences of his actions, dapat magpakalalaki siya he has to face the music of his own making," the prelate told Church-run Radyo Veritas.
He also urged NBI to double its effort to recapture Mancao who easily managed to sneak out of the NBI compound in Manila and escaped.
"Very dissappointing lang kasi nakatakas siya under the very nose of NBI... so the NBI had to prove their worth this time by having Mancao recaptured..." Father Lacal added.
Meanwhile, Father Lacal called on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to cleanse the ranks of the NBI of corrupt officials to prevent similar incidents from happening.
He said that the timing of Mancao's escape is suspect, noting the former police official is known to be running in Compostela Valley as a provincial board member.
"Hindi ko maiwasan na magdudada. Una ang timing ang at pangalawa how could you escape from NBI not unless you have who work from within the institution itself," he added.