Palace: Michael Ray Aquino’s return a chance to crack Dacer-Corbito case

MANILA, Philippines – While Michael Ray Aquino has maintained his innocence and cleared former President Joseph Estrada and Sen. Panfilo Lacson in the murders of publicist Salvador Bubby Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito, Malacañang remains convinced that he will be able to help crack the 10-year-old investigation.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Malacañang has been looking at Aquino’s return to the country to face trial for the case as an opportunity to “bring us one step closer to the resolution’’ of the case.

“We really hope that it brings us one step closer to closure because this has long been pending. And for the sake of those who are involved and also for the sake of the family, we hope there will be a closure,’’ Valte said over government-run Radyo ng Bayan.

As for his statement clearing Estrada and Lacson of any hand in the double murder case, Valte said the courts and the Department of Justice would be in a better position to handle the issue.

“The proper venue there would be the court. The judge will make a judgment on that,’’ she said.

She added that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima would be in a better position to assess the impact of Aquino’s statement on the reinvestigation of the case.

As for Aquino’s security, Valte said that the National Bureau of Investigation has vowed to “take every effort to secure’’ him.