Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Sunday continued to hit back at alleged efforts to implicate him to the double-murder case of publicist Salvador 'Bubby' Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.

Lacson on Sunday disclosed a text message which he said proves that former police superintendent Cezar Mancao was pressured by Malacañang to implicate him in the double-murder case.

Lacson, in a text message to ABS-CBN News, said that his former aide had assured him of his loyalty in the text message he said was sent January 4, 2008.

The senator said the message was sent after the latter informed him of a call made September 2007 by Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza, Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, supposedly to convince Mancao to implicate the senator in the Dacer-Corbito case.

"Ur ryt [You’re right], sir! Maricar [Mancao’s wife] said it too. I was hoping I can contribute something 2 propel u at d end. Rest assured of my loyalty. I will desist d tempttn [temptation]. Sleep soundly sr [sir]," said the text message which Lacson said was sent to him by Mancao.

Lacson said he was compelled to reveal Mancao’s text message “in order to counter other forces that have taken advantage of his [Mancao’s] predicament and his weakness to use him against me.”

He also said he was dismayed at Mancao’s sudden turnaround.

“It pains me that a friend and a former subordinate has turned against me even to a point of sacrificing d [the] truth," said Lacson.

“Nothing to do with murders”

Lacson on Friday had said he had "absolutely nothing to do" with the murders Dacer and Corbito, adding he will not escape and will face whatever case will be filed against him by the government.

"Haharapin ko ito. Mananalig ako na katotohanan pa rin ang mananaig. Hindi ko ito tatakasan. Haharapin ko ito head on....I have absolutely nothing to do with the Dacer-Corbito case," Lacson told radio dzMM. (I will face this. I'm confident that the truth will prevail. I will not escape. I will face this head on because I have absolutely nothing to do with the Dacer-Corbito case.)

Lacson, who headed concurrently the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) when Dacer and Corbito were murdered, made the statement after the Philippine Daily Inquirer published an article on Mancao's supposed February 14 affidavit.

In the newspaper report, Mancao said in his affidavit that he was present when fellow former police senior superintendent Michael Ray Aquino told Lacson: "Tatapusin muna namin si Delta, sir, kasi naiirita na si Bigote sa kanya."

The report said Delta was a codename for Dacer and "sir" was Lacson. "Bigote," meanwhile, allegedly refers to former president Joseph Estrada. It added that the supposed conversation happened inside Lacson's vehicle en route to a Japanese restaurant in October 2000.

"Never rode with me"

In the radio dzMM interview, Lacson said the supposed conversation did not happen. He said Mancao, throughout his PNP chief days, never rode with him in his service vehicle.

He also said that the supposed affidavit depicted him as a stupid man for making sensitive instructions in front of people who are not supposed to know.

"First of all, the supposed conversation and the incident never occured," he said, adding that he always leaves with his aide-de-camp, Sergeant Reynaldo]Oximoso.

Lacson, meanwhile, admitted meeting with Mancao and Aquino after he won a seat in the Senate in 2001, but denied that he gave the two instructions to hide abroad.

Lacson said the two asked for his permission to leave for America. "Who am I to stop them?" he said.

The senator also admitted meeting Mancao in Florida twice, but denied that they had a conversation with his former operative about the Dacer-Corbito double-murder case.

The newspaper report said that, according to Mancao's affidavit, Lacson gave him and Aquino instructions to leave the country after former police superintendent Glenn Dumlao was arrested by the PNP’s Intelligence Group and executed an affidavit about the murders.

Former president Joseph Estrada, meanwhile, on Friday had again denied allegations in Mancao’s supposed affidavit, linking him to the murders.

"Bubby Dacer is a good friend of mine, my compadre... The day before he was abducted he was in Malacañang having merienda with me," Estrada said in an interview with ANC Friday.

Estrada reiterated that it is not in his character to order the killing of somebody, much more of a compadre. He said he is confident that in the end, the truth will prevail.

‘Can't back Mancao's claims’

Oximoso has also belied allegations that he may be able to corroborate evidence that Lacson gave his subordinates the order to kill Dacer.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Friday, Oximoso said he was just the personal driver of Lacson, and that he cannot recall the incident where Lacson allegedly gave an order to police officer Michael Ray Aquino to kill Dacer.

"Wala akong maalala na may ganoong usapan," Oximoso said.

Oximoso also said he cannot remember whether Mancao was in the car when Lacson allegedly gave the order.

He asked Mancao not to link an "innocent" person like him to the double-murder case.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez earlier said Oximoso could corroborate Mancao's claims. The National Bureau of Investigation also said it has started looking for Oximoso.

Oximoso also denied Gonzalez's statement that he faces murder and double murder cases.

Oximoso also said he is willing to testify and belie Mancao's claims. With reports from Lynda Jumilla and Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN News