MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Panfilo ?Ping? Lacson has denied insinuations that he was delaying the extradition of his two former aides, who have both been implicated in the killings of a publicist and his driver.

Lacson reiterated that he would like former police superintendents Cezar Mancao and Glenn Dumlao to return to the country as soon as possible to shed light into the murders of Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and Emmanuel Corbito.

Lacson was responding to Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez?s statement that ?unseen hands? were behind the legal moves in the US to delay the return of the two.

?It is obvious that somebody is orchestrating [this] to prevent their return because their return might be adverse to their interest,? Gonzalez said Monday.

?Are they saying the US justice system is as corrupt as ours?? Lacson said in a statement.

?Does it also mean I, an individual senator, carry more influence than the entire Philippine government, as far as the US justice system is concerned?? he further asked.

In the US, the senator pointed out that the government respects the rights of people, including non-US citizens, to seek redress and assert their rights.