Ping Lacson rides again

SENATOR Ping Lacson rides again!

Instead of asking for forgiveness from the public for refusing to submit himself to custody while his appeal was being heard in the Court of Appeals, Lacson even boasted about his 13 months in hiding.

He even insinuated that lawyer Ferdinand Topacio paid off the media for a supposed smear campaign against him.

Topacio is the lawyer of former Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao, principal witness against Lacson in the abduction-murder of publicist Bubby Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito.

According to Lacson, Topacio had a huge PR chest to sustain the black propaganda against him.

The senator projects into another what he has or does.

Now, who has plenty of money?

How much did he spend for transportation in going from one country to another, for hotel accommodations, for food and other necessities?

Don’t tell me everything was free.

* * *

How ironic that Lacson was reported to have hidden in Portugal, which doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the Philippines.

That’s also the country where his enemy, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, reportedly has a big estate.

Just in case things got hot for the Arroyos here.

* * *

If he really is innocent, why did Lacson run away when the Manila Regional Trial Court issued a warrant for his arrest?

As a senator who writes laws, he should have submitted himself to the rule of law by having himself placed in custody while the case is being heard in court.

He should not give as reason that under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo he would not have a fair trial, so he escaped.

Why didn’t he surface after Arroyo was gone? Why did he continue to hide?

* * *

One of the Court of Appeals justices who quashed the warrant of arrest against Lacson is always seen with a lawyer who has pending cases in the appellate court.

I’m not saying this justice talked with Lacson’s lawyers concerning the Dacer-Corbito case.

I am just saying that the justice is always seen in the company of a lawyer who has pending cases in the Court of Appeals.

His fellow justices, according to my mole, have admonished him about being seen in public places with the lawyer.

Justices and judges are supposed to shy away from the prying eyes of the public, and should not be seen with people who could influence them in their decisions.

* * *

Lacson’s alleged participation in the abduction and murders of Dacer and Corbito has been considerably weakened by the Court of Appeals.

The appellate court, in quashing the arrest warrant against Lacson, said that principal witness Cezar Mancao was not a credible witness.

Mancao’s statement is the basis for the inclusion of Lacson in the Dacer-Corbito double-murder case.

Mancao claims Lacson, who was Philippine National Police and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force chief at the time, ordered Bubby Dacer eliminated.

The Court of Appeals has virtually acquitted Lacson even before his trial by the lower court.

* * *

Many people are asking me what the amazing discovery was in Puerto Princesa’s Underground River that I didn’t mention in this space last Thursday.

I said that I didn’t want to preempt Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn who would make the announcement soon.

But on Monday, Hagedorn told me that the discovery is of such national—and even world—significance he would rather President Noy make the announcement.