Michael Ray Aquino wants re-investigation of Dacer-Corbito murders–lawyer

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of former police officer Michael Ray Aquino asked the Manila City regional trial court to order a reinvestigation of the murder case involving the deaths of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and Emmanuel Corbito.

Lawyer Napolen Poblador said that if the Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeals that there was no probable cause to prosecute Senator Panfilo Lacson because the testimony of Aquino’s former colleague at the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) Cezar Mancao was “incredible,” then in there should also be no reason to prosecute his client.

Aside from Mancao, another colleague, Glen Dumlao, implicated Lacson but Poblador said that since the case against senator has been dismissed for lack of probable cause, it meant that “Mancao and Dumlao’s testimonies are not credible.”

He said it was Mancao and Dumlao who also tagged Aquino as among those who participated in the killing of Dacer and Corbito.

Charges against Lacson, as well as against Aquino, are anchored on the testimonies of Mancao and Dumlao.

“It was also only Mancao and Dumlao who testified against Aquino. If the Supreme Court already said there is no probable cause against the senator, it means there is also no probable cause against Aquino. So, why do we have to go through with the trial?” Poblador said.

Manila Court Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina gave the prosecution 15 days to submit their comment.

The appeals court decision, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court, said Mancao “was not a credible and trustworthy witness” because “under oath he contradicted himself on material points.

The appeals court said there were “material contradictions” in Mancao’s affidavits executed in June 2001 and the affidavit executed on Feb. 13, 2009.

Such contradictions, the appeals court said “affected the credibility of Cezar Mancao and the veracity of his statements.”

In his June 21, 2001 affidavit, Mancao neither mentioned nor implicated Lacson in the so-called “special operations” to kill Dacer. He also denied meeting Aquino for the “special operations.”