The Dacer family has filed a formal complaint against Senator Panfilo Lacson for the murders of publicist Salvador ‘Bubby’ Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

Dacer's four daughters, who are now based in the United States, executed an affidavit directly accusing Lacson of masterminding the killings.

Siblings Emily, Sabina, Carina and Amparo, all based in United States, executed and subscribed to the complaint affidavit last March 23 at the Office of the Consul General in New York.

The complaint was filed by their lawyer, Demetrio Custodio, at the Department of Justice (DOJ) here in Manila on Friday.

In response to the complaint, Senator Panfilo Lacson reiterated he had nothing to do with the killings of Dacer and Corbito.

"While I respect the right of the Dacer family to find justice under our criminal justice system, they are gravely mistaken and being misguided with their recent action. In their desire to seek justice, they will be committing a more serious injustice by implicating me to the crime," Lacson said.

"To my own family, friends and supporters, this much I can tell them--I have said time and again, and I will say it again, I had nothing to do with the Dacer-Corbito case. And, as long as truth and evidence will be the basis in resolving this case, I have nothìng to fear," he added.

Mancao affidavit

The Dacer siblings filed the complaint days before the expected extradition on Tuesday of Lacson’s former operative, former police superintendent Cezar Mancao.

Mancao had revealed Lacson’s supposed participation in Dacer’s murder in an affidavit he executed in United States last February.

The Dacer siblings accused Lacson of ordering their father’s killing, saying he had an axe to grind against the late public relations man.

The sisters said their father strongly opposed Lacson's appointment as Philippine National Police chief during former President Joseph Estrada's time.

They also said in their complaint that a few months before the abduction, Dacer told them that Lacson should be blamed if ever something happened to him.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales accepted the nine-page complaint affidavit filed by Custodio on behalf of the Dacer family.

Gonzalez said the complaint paves the way for the formal reopening and reinvestigation on the Dacer-Corbito murder.

The DOJ panel will reconvene as soon as Mancao arrives in the country to testify in support of his affidavit.

Mancao back Tuesday

Mancao’s lawyer, Arnedo Valera, told radio dzMM that his client will fly back to Manila on Tuesday.

Valera said Mancao might bring along his wife Maricar when he returns to the country next week.

He said Mancao will be immediately brought to the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) headquarters in Manila upon arrival.

In an interview on Thursday, Valera said Mancao is looking forward to testifying about the murders of Dacer and Corbito.
 
"Mancao looks forward to going home, turning state witness, and he expressed the hope that he may be able to return one day to the US," Valera said.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez announced Thursday that the proceedings for Mancao's extradition have been completed in the United States.

Gonzalez said he had ordered Bureau of Corrections chief Oscar Calderon to book a flight to US to supervise the extradition.

He said he did not want Mancao's extradition delayed just like what happened to the case of former police superintendent Glenn Dumlao, who is also linked to the double murder case.

"I just told him to leave because of the circumstances about Dumlao. I wanted him to check on the situation there. I want to be sure that Mancao will eventually return to the Philippines since his extradition has been completed," Gonzalez told reporters.

Meantime, Malacañang refused to comment on the filing of the murder complaint against Lacson, a leader of the political opposition, except to say it was a matter best left to the justice department.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the government will ensure the safety of Mancao when he returns next week. -- reports from MARIETON PACHECO, MARICAR BAUTISTA, RG CRUZ, ABS-CBN News