MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Former police Senior Superintendent Cesar Mancao was brought before a United States Federal District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Friday (11 p.m. Friday in Manila), signaling the start of the process for his extradition, the Department of Justice said Saturday.

"The hearing for Mancao (was meant) to find out if he has other cases in the United States," Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor said.

If Mancao has no other pending warrants in the US, the US court would proceed with the extradition trial.

Blancaflor said he did not know whether former Senior Superintendent Glenn Dumlao, another fugitive, has also been brought before a US Federal District Court in New York.

If there are no pending warrants against them there, US courts would begin the extradition trial for Mancao and Dumlao.

Mancao and Dumlao were arrested simultaneously in Florida and New York, respectively, on Thursday morning (Thursday night in Manila) on the strength of an extradition request made by the Philippine government two months ago.

The US Department of Justice approved last week the Philippine government's request to extradite the two, along with former Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino, so they could be tried here for the murders of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito eight years ago.

The three police officers are closely identified with then Philippine National Police director general and now Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Dacer, a well-known public relations man to several prominent politicians, and his driver Corbito were abducted on the morning of November 24, 2000, at the boundary of Makati and Manila while on their way to Dacer's office at the Manila Hotel.

Investigation later revealed Dacer and Corbito were brought to Dasmariñas, Cavite, where they were interrogated and tortured. Then they were taken to Indang, Cavite, where they were strangled to death and then burned.

Their remains were recovered months later on a creek bed in Indang after two suspects turned state witnesses confessed to the killing.

According to the Department of Justice, 16 police officers and six civilian agents of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), which Lacson headed and was under then Vice President Joseph Estrada, were charged with double murder.

But only 10 of the 22 accused are in detention while being tried by the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Dumlao had executed an affidavit implicating former President Joseph Estrada and Lacson in the murders. Estrada and Lacson have denied the allegation.

Mancao and Aquino fled the country in July 2001. Dumlao fled in May 2003.

The court issued arrest warrants against Mancao and Aquino in 2006, and against Dumlao in 2007.

While Mancao and Dumlao face an extradition trial, Aquino would first have to finish serving a six-year prison sentence for espionage before he could be extradited.

Aquino pleaded guilty in 2007 to unauthorized possession of US Defense Department documents.

In 2006, Mancao was arrested as a material witness against Aquino in the espionage case. But Mancao was released on bail.

Dumlao will not automatically be considered a state witness in the double murder case, according to Blancaflor, who prepared the extradition request as head of a task force that monitors 42 celebrated cases of media personality killings, including the Dacer-Corbito case.

He said government prosecutors would evaluate whether they still need Dumlao for their case.

"If he wants to be a state witness again, that's another matter. That's outside my concern. It's up to the prosecution. But that doesn't mean we won't use his affidavit. His affidavit is very much valid," Blancaflor said.

Prosecutors have formally wrapped up presenting their evidence, including the testimonies of 12 witness, last August.

The 10 accused who are in custody would begin giving their defense.

Blancaflor said Dumlao had wanted to turn state witness.

"He wanted to be under the Witness Protection Program (of the Department of Justice), but the law doesn't allow active members of the Philippine National Police to be under the program. Before we could do something about it, he already left," said Blancaflor.

Blancaflor said they have a strong case for the extradition trial.

"The mere fact that (the US Department of Justice) granted the (extradition) request means they are convinced these three need to stand trial," he said.

Blancaflor said their extradition request included copies of the arrest warrants, the confessions of the participants, documents on how the three left the country, and other pertinent court documents.

The two can contest their extradition, but Blancaflor said the US courts cannot try them on the "substance of the (double murder) case."

They will be deported "if they can't raise sufficient defense" during their trial, he said.

"I don't know how they can oppose (their extradition) since we have the confessions of several participants. The case is strong. There is clear evidence," Blancaflor added.

"This is indeed good news in our quest for justice in this particular case. We are thankful to the US government for their cooperation and efforts. They expedited our extradition request because, as they themselves always remind us, the US is not a safe haven for media killers, and we are really counting on that," Blancaflor said.