Who killed Dacer? FVR talks, plot thickens / Fund campaign for justice - HERE'S THE SCORE by Teodoro C. Benigno

The Millennium came at the stroke of midnight Jan. 31, 1999. And as we Filipinos greeted the year 2000 with jubilation, we somehow knew the gods above were in hush-hush conclave – and sadly shook their heads. The presidency of Joseph Ejercito Estrada had gone from bad to worse – swishing out scandals almost day by day. Nothing at the time defined his presidency more than his "Midnight Cabinet" described by Aprodicio Laquian as a12 to 4 a.m. revelry where only he remained sober to drive the others home.

But it was just a matter of time. Garbage like kitchen plates and loose mountain stone pile up only to a certain peak. And then they come crashing down like rotten masonry mildewed by age. A deux ex machina had to come. He was needed to unlock the concealed vaults of the presidency. And it came in the person of Luis "Chavit" Singson, a twin as it were of the president, a bosom friend, a hell-for-leather high lifer and sinner extraordinaire – as he admits. Strange. Only in the Philippines? Why is the Church always present when crisis comes? And issues the first bellow.

Singson sought the sanctuary of Jaime Cardinal Sin and the once remote and distant trumpets blared loud in the face of Joseph Estrada.

What transpired after that was a whirlwind. Street demonstrations. Impeachment. Eleven pro-Estrada senators blowing themselves to kingdom come. People Power II. The flight of Joseph Estrada from Malacañang. A Supreme Court in pendulum from a 13-0 vote legitimizing GMA to an 8-5 verdict supplying Estrada with life-boats. But I kid you not. That Court, overcome by shame and public outrage, will soon withdraw the life-boats. And Estrada – unless he escapes – will be arraigned and very presumably imprisoned.

And here we stopped. We hardly expected what happened next – swift and sudden – although we expected it in the long run. We had thought it was the near-perfect crime, the kidnap-murder of PR practitioner Bubby Dacer and his driver, Manuel Corbito. Waylaid in broad daylight Nov. 24 last year, Dacer and Corbito just disappeared. And as events developed, it was far from being the perfect or near-perfect crime. It could have been if only one man did it – The Jackal of John Le Carre assigned to assassinate Charles de Gaulle. A professional killer or two from the Triad of Macao could have done it, killed Dacer, and escaped to China.

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As it turned out, it was shoddy and slipshod. All it needed to be uncovered was for Joseph Estrada to be toppled from Malacañang and Gen. Panfilo Lacson removed from the Philippine National Police. Estrada was feared. Thus his predilection for Asiong Salonga which he acted with panache in the movies. And often Estrada warned his critics he would get to them and they would be disposed of, lifeless, in the kangkungan. Feared even more was Ping Lacson, earlier accused as the principal in the Kuratong Baleleng massacre in 1995. Even in the PNP, some generals told me, his tread was that of black-bellied tank with a front cannon rolling on a dirt road. They were scared of him.

That presumably was his undoing.

For Lacson’s link to Joseph Estrada was open-ended. The president then trusted Lacson more than he trusted anybody else. And this is where the second phase of the Estrada drama begins. Lacson had more powers than all previous PNP chiefs combined, his budgets rivaling those of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He knew where all the bodies were buried, and he knew all the closets. They said he could eavesdrop on anybody and did with state-of-the-art wiretaps. We all suspected it. Much earlier, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) depicted Lacson as a brutal basher of human rights. Scores were reportedly killed or maimed in his offensive wake without hesitation or mercy.

Now, it’s wide open. It has been established by the NBI and police investigators beyond doubt it was a special team of the PAOCTF (Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force) that abducted and killed Dacer. That the head of the team was PAOCTF Visayas chief, Senior Superintendent Teofilo Vina. That two Cavite farmers Jimmy Lopez and Alex Diloy squealed and admitted they participated in the killing, that the PAOCTF trio who garroted, burned and buried Dacer and Corbito in a creek were SPO4 Marino Soberano, SPO3 Jose Escalante and Mauro Torres. Double murder charges have been filed against eleven, including Diloy and Lopez. One of them may turn state witness.

You don’t need Albert Einstein to add up two and two equals four.

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That PAOCTF is (or was) the exclusive dominion of Ping Lacson. Ergo, Lacson cannot now claim he knew nothing about the kidnap-murder of Dacer and Corbito. Another deux ex machina? Yes, and the man comes with the subtlety of a stampede – difficult to roll back and even more difficult to disbelieve. When former president Fidel Ramos lifted his accusing finger and pointed at Joseph Estrada as the alleged mastermind of the murder of Bubby Dacer, you have here a turbulent ocean crashing to shore. Two ex-presidents eyeball-to-eyeball. How about that?

Here’s what FVR is quoted as saying: "Aside from the 12 plunder cases against Estrada, there is a 13th case: the kidnapping and murder of well-known PR practitioners Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver, Manuel Corbito." If I know FVR at all, he is meticulous to a fault in his thinking and his research. He says nothing, concludes nothing unless he has brought all his facts and pieces together. His forte is military and political intelligence. He studied in Fort Bragg and other US military outfits where he honed his intelligence skills to near-perfection. Yes, you can loosely call him a master spy. And beside him is Joe Almonte, spook extraordinaire.

The timing, though not contrived, is perfect. The fear factor has dissipated. The fear of Estrada and Lacson, now removed from their power perches by People Power II, no longer transfixes people like hissing cobras.

FVR’s exposé will be certain to sow panic in opposition ranks, particularly the Puwersa ng Masa senatorial slate, strengthen the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Galvanize the People Power Coalition. It is the second gladiatorial blow People Power II has been waiting for. Perhaps the finishing crushing blow in the political arena. For not only is Erap Estrada accused of plunder but also murder. He is the first president of our Republic to be so accused. It’s utterly shocking.

No wonder the gods were silent when we greeted the Millennium.

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We’re back to our Fund Campaign for Justice. First on the line is PLDT’s Manny Pangilinan with a donation of P100,000. Never a piker, Pangilinan was one of three awardees of COPA for defying then president Joseph Estrada and contributing handsomely to People Power II street demonstrations. Next is Ms. ANONYMOUS (initials SML) with a P10,000 cheque and the message: "Thank the Lord for having blessed you with the journalistic talent you have so fearlessly used in the interest of truth and justice." Up front is Dr. Augusto P. Sarmiento with P5,000 cheque (Address: 29 Meralco Ave., Pasig City, E-194 Condo). Thank you ever so much.

Another anonymous couple (EAC and RAC) gave a P5,000 cheque – no message. Thanks. Preferring to remain anonymous is an old and dear friend with a P5,000 cheque and calling on the Holy Spirit "to guide your formidable and super thoughts for the country’s salvation." Thanks again. From "your fan" (TO) comes a P1,000 cheque with an angel-studded estampita. A P1,000 manager’s cheque comes from Dr. and Mrs. Alfredo Estanislao ("We read and believe in you"). The Espinosa Family of Olongapo City (emphasis on Belle) sends two postal cheques of P500 each, "an effort of indignant family members and we pray that justice is served."

Domingo V. Sardilla (2630 E. 8th St. Apt. B1, National City, CA 91950) sends US$20. Mr. and Mrs. Juan L. Savilles (MTC Miagao, Iloilo) send a P500 postal cheque. Preferring to remain anonymous is a lady from Victorias City, Negros Occidental with a P300 postal cheque. A P200 cash contribution comes without any name and address. To all of you, thanks again and again.

Now we have an important announcement to make. All potential donors and contributors who have long requested us to open up a bank account number to facilitate donations and contributions can now use this RCBC Account Number: 12603656743, repeat 12603656743. Since there are RCBC branches and outlets all over the country, this can really fast-track things. There are two Account Names: The Council on Philippine Affairs (COPA) Inc., Piso Para sa Katarungan. And Teodoro C. Benigno, Fund Campaign for Justice.

Another gentle advisory. The big hitters in the business community, niched in Makati or elsewhere, remain shy. C’mon, gentlemen, you were the first at the barricades demanding the ouster or resignation of Joseph Estrada. His trial is just around the corner. So, be generous with your contributions.