De Lima orders intensified manhunt as Mancao ignores surrender deadline

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Thursday ordered an intensified manhunt for former police officer Cezar Mancao after he declared he will not surrender.

Mancao, in a television interview, said he will not comply with the deadline set by De Lima that he should surrender today (Thursday).

De Lima said she will also coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help search for Mancao.

De Lima said she was able to talk to Mancao who apologized for his action.

Mancao, De Lima said, is afraid that he will be killed once he is transferred to the Manila City Jail.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation said the manhunt for Mancao is already in place.

NBI Deputy Director Reynaldo Esmeralda said they have already tapped their Regional Office and District Offices and Intelligence Units to hunt for Mancao.

Esmeralda said he was able to talk to Mancao this afternoon but declined to divulge the details of their talk.