Justice chief orders BI probe of Lacson travels

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima ordered the Bureau of Immigration to determine how Senator Panfilo Lacson managed to leave the country and evade arrest.

“I will await BI report and see if a deeper probe is warranted,” De Lima said.

Lacson evaded authorities for over a year after the Manila Court ordered his arrest early 2010 for the deaths of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito.

The Philippine government cancelled Lacson’s passport in August 2010 and has since been placed under red notice by the Interpol.

Lacson surfaced after the Court of Appeals dismissed the murder case against him.

The Philippine consulate in Hong Kong, Xiamen and Macau denied issuing Lacson the travel document.

De Lima has dared Lacson to reveal the source of the travel documents he used to return to the country last March 26 “otherwise a cloud of doubt will be cast or will linger on the integrity and/or efficiency of relevant institutions.”

But Lacson vowed to take to his grave all crucial information about the details of his travels, including those who helped him.