DOJ drops Mancao from witness program – De Lima

Former Police Colonel Cezar Mancao II INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) has already dropped former police officer Cezar Mancao from the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP), Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Monday.

“I have no choice…what will be the basis of his coverage under the WPP? He is on the run, how can we protect him. We have to preserve the integrity of the program,” De Lima told reporters.

Mancao is facing two counts of murder for the death of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000. He escaped early morning Thursday.

The National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police already launched an intensified manhunt operation to capture Mancao.

De Lima said Mancao’s coverage under the WPP has been terminated because he violated his memorandum of agreement with WPP.

She added that it is also lamentable that Mancao is discrediting the WPP.

Mancao, over the weekend, said the WPP is riddled with corruption.

“Dahan dahan Lang sana Mr. Mancao. I think it is out of desperation that you are resorting to all these na sinisiraan mo ang mga kumupkop sa’yo. Where is your sense of responsibility,” De Lima said.

De Lima said Mancao has been making demands while he was under the WPP. She said Mancao wanted to go to Compostela Valley and he wanted to go out and see his doctor.

“It’s not for us to decide since he is still an accused; it is upon the court’s decision to allow him or not,” she said.