New probe of Dacer killing to target Lacson

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DoJ) will reinvestigate the 2000 killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito, to determine Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s involvement, if any, in the decade-old murders.

“We will definitely push through with the reinvestigation…this one is on the actual participation of Senator Ping. Was he or was he not involved,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Tuesday in a press conference.

The government has decided to reinvestigate the case after the Court of Appeals recently dismissed the murder charges filed against Lacson by the DoJ for lack of evidence.

Lacson went on the lam in January last year before a warrant for his arrest could be issued. He resurfaced last March after the appellate court ruled in his favor and the warrant was lifted.

De Lima said she hoped the senator would cooperate in the reinvestigation.

“Total cooperation, that is the target,” she said.

Dacer’s daughters have filed a motion in the Supreme Court seeking a review of the appellate court’s decision.

De Lima said she did not see any legal impediment to a reinvestigation by the DoJ while the Dacer family’s petition is pending in the high tribunal.

De Lima said the government would also “expedite” the extradition of another Lacson aide, Michael Ray Aquino, from the United States.