MANILA, Philippines?Senator Panfilo Lacson insisted on Friday he had no knowledge of "Oplan Delta," the alleged plot to kill publicist Salvador "Bubby? Dacer, who eventually was killed along with his driver in 2000.

"The truth is, it?s the first time I?ve heard of ?Oplan Delta?,? Lacson said over dzxl radio. "I did not know about the Operation Delta that Mancao was talking about.?

He was referring to his former police aide, Cezar Mancao II, who testified in court on Thursday and identified him, along with former president Joseph Estrada and four others, as being behind the killing of Dacer.

On two radio stations on Friday, Lacson continued to insist he had no hand in the killings of Dacer and Emmanuel Corbito.

He said his former police aide made statements that were "based on his opinions and not on facts.??

"That?s very clear because he said what he knew was former president Estrada had a direct hand as well as the others. But he did not say what I knew about it. And that?s why we can see this is opinionated and not based on actual facts,? he said in mixture of English and Filipino.

Still, the senator said he wanted to see the transcript of Mancao?s testimony in court before he takes any action.

He reiterated his belief that Mancao was "pressured? to make those statements.

"Even if they present 1,000 witnesses, they dictate on 1,000 witnesses and give a script to 1,000 witnesses, in the end it will be the truth that will prevail,? Lacson said.

Interviewed over dzMM radio, Lacson denied he withdrew from the presidential race because he was scared of the return of Mancao and another former police aide, Glen Dumlao, to testify on the Dacer-Corbito case.

"I can?t be scared because I did not do anything wrong,? he said.

He said he pulled out of the presidential race for lack of funds.