MANILA, Philippines—You can’t pin his old man down, not even by a whisker.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada shrugged off a report that had Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez citing a character code named “Bigote” (moustache) when asked if deposed President Joseph Estrada, the senator’s father, was ever mentioned in a recent and still classified affidavit on the 2000 Dacer-Corbito murder case.
“There are so many men sporting a moustache,” the younger Estrada told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on the phone Tuesday, stressing his father had nothing to do with the abduction and brutal killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.
Out of character
The senator, who like the ex-President grows a moustache but occasionally faces the public clean shaven, said it was “not the character of my father to do such thing.”
“We’re very confident, President Erap (Estrada’s nickname) is not involved,” Jinggoy said. “We’re not even bothered. It just so happened that the murders happened during my father’s term.”
Gonzalez on Monday said a certain Bigote was mentioned in the affidavit executed last month by former police Senior Supt. Cesar Mancao in the United States in connection with new evidence he would divulge upon his extradition to the Philippines.
The justice secretary made the disclosure when asked whether the Mancao affidavit contained anything that would link former President Estrada to the murders, which took place two months before Estrada was ousted from Malacańang in January 2001.
Passing mention
“There was also a mention of Bigote. That’s all,” Gonzalez then said, although noting that the slain Dacer himself sported a moustache.
“Well, if you just want to make trouble for him (Estrada), you can stretch that story,” Gonzalez told reporters.
Bigote was only mentioned in passing and “it’s not strong” if it were to be taken as evidence against the former President, the justice secretary said.
Senator Estrada Tuesday joined fellow opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who had also been linked to the murders, in calling on Gonzalez to make the Mancao affidavit public and put an end to speculations.
Gonzalez earlier maintained that until Mancao’s return from the United States, his agency would keep the document confidential. “What if he takes it back?” he said.
Media ban
Also Tuesday, Gonzalez turned down a request from Mancao’s family to allow media coverage of his return from the United States.
He conveyed the decision in an e-mail to Arnedo Valera, lawyer of Mancao’s wife Maricar.
“With regard to your client’s request for coverage and accompaniment by the media, SecDoJ (Secretary of Justice) absolutely disagrees and disapproves on the ground that it will compromise the security and life of your client’s husband,” the e-mail said.
“SecDoJ does not wish to exaggerate danger, but the well-being of your client’s husband will be unnecessarily exposed. SecDoJ considers his safe return and security to be paramount, and requests you and your client’s family to allow this operation to go as already set; with utmost secrecy,” it added.
Mancao and Glenn Dumlao, another former police officer tagged in the murders, are reportedly due to return to the country on separate flights from the United States in the next few days. With a report from Norman Bordadora
