Eight years after he travelled to America, former police colonel Cezar Mancao has ended up at a US federal prison in downtown Miami in Florida state.

Implicated in the Dacer-Corbito doble murder case, Mancao is asking the Philippine Department of Justice to officially declare him a state witness.

His attorney Arnedo Valera visited him in prison for the first time Tuesday, while his wife Maricar waited outside. The meeting lasted four hours.

Valera said Mancao wants to turn state witness officially and get better treatment in prison.

"Bakit tinatrato siya na parang convicted felon? Siya lang talaga ang naka-orange, limitado ‘yong kilos niya. Kinakadena siya pag nasa loob so hindi ito ‘yong inaasahan niya na arrangement dapat ng Philippine government sa pagtanggap niya sa kanyang duty na maging state witness," said Valera.

Mancao also requests that his wife and lawyer accompany him on the trip back to the philippines, together with media and to wear a bullet-proof vest.

Soul-searching

In his message to the public and the families of slain public relations executive Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito, Mancao apologized and said he decided to tell all that he knows after much soul-searching.

"Humihingi ako ng tawad sa pamilyang Dacer at Corbito kung ano man ang aking pagkukulang. Nais ko mang sabihin na wala akong kinalaman sa pagkamatay ni Ginoong Dacer at Ginoong Corbito. Ako ay isang bahagi ng isang organisasyon na may mga nagawang pagkukulang at humihingi ako ng tawad to set the record straight. Ako ay magsasabi ng katotohanan at ito ang aking pamana sa aking mga anak at susunod na henerasyon. Hindi ko sinasabing malinis ako o ako ay nagmamalinis. Humihingi ako ng kapatawaran sa aking mga pagkukulang," said Mancao, as relayed by Valera.

Valera said Mancao showed mixed emotions during their four-hour meeting.

"High spirits naman siya kaya lang malungkot yung nadarama niya eh minsan napapaiyak siya dahil sa sitwasyon niya…. Dumalaw nga sina Maricar kahapon saka ‘yong mga anak niya, napapaiyak siya. Inulit niya ulit yung feeling niya na hindi niya maipaliwanag sa mga anak niya kung ano yung nangyayari sa buhay nila," said Valera.

Dangers

Figting back her own tears, Maricar promised to stand by her husband. Since he was arrested in November, she saw him again only last week.

"Alam niya yung danger, alam niya yung danger na kinakaharap niya, pero kung para sa katotohanan, gagawin niya lahat, at saka in-explain niya sa kin, ito talaga ang buhay pulis, isang paa mo nandun na sa ground so dapat handa ka dyan. Tinitibayan ko lang ang loob ko, syempre pag sa harap ng mga bata, tinitibayan ko, pero pag mag-isa na 'ko yung umiiyak na naman ako," said the wife of the former Philippine police official.

While he fears for his life, Mancao said there's no turning back.

"I am willing to face anything in the name of truth and justice, but I fear for my life right now because of powerful political forces that are involved. And I'm open to reality that a violent thing may happen to me,” said Mancao according to Valera.

Maricar shares her husband's fears and so she chooses to remain silent about the details of Mancao's sworn statement.

"Sana naman hindi mawala si Cezar, papano na lang kami kung mawawala siya?" said Maricar.

No date has yet been set for the extradition of Cezar Mancao. His lawyer said they will await the turnover notice from the State Department to the Justice Department. Only then will preparations begin for Mancao's trip back home. -- Ging Reyes, ABS-CBN News, Miami, Florida