MANILA, Philippines—Senator Mar Roxas confirmed reports that fellow Senator Panfilo Lacson was with him in the US in September 2000, contradicting the statement of former police officer Cesar Mancao that he was giving orders to kill publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer during that period.

In his one-page affidavit, Roxas said the Philippine delegation left Manila onboard a Philippine Airlines plane on September 4, 2004 and returned nine days later.

"I recalled that Senator Lacsonm, who was then the chief of the Philippine National Police, was a member of the Philippine delegation in the said summit and was with us at the United States at that time," Roxas, who was then secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said in his affidavit.

Roxas’ affidavit was part of Lacson’s defense, refuting accusations he had a hand in the twin killing of Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

Lacson also submitted a certification from the Bureau of Immigration, showing his departure and arrival in the country in September 2000.

Meanwhile, broadcasters Ted Failon of ABS-CBN and Maki Pulido of GMA-7 failed to show up during the hearing but their lawyers appeared before the court to represent them.

The next hearing will be on November 13.