Former President Joseph Estrada with distressed OFWs who just returned home accompanied by Sen. Jose'Jinggoy' Estrada, Sept. 21, 2009

MANILA - On the eve of another privilege speech of Senator Panfilo Lacson, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada and his son, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, said the former police chief is getting “desperate” with his accusations.

"He is trying his best to save himself, desperado na iyan, dumating kasi sina [former police official Cezar] Mancao na walang itinuro kundi siya," former President Estrada said.

Lacson has been linked by former Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) agent Cezar Mancao II to the November 2000 killing of publicist Salvador 'Bubby' Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

The twin murder case, which is pending before the Manila Regional Trial Court, is being reviewed for investigation by the Department of Justice after Mancao pointed to Estrada and Lacson as the masterminds.

Lacson earlier indicated that former President Estrada might have something to do with the twin murders. Estrada, however, said it was Lacson himself who ordered the killings.

Bentain case

In his privilege speech on Tuesday, Lacson will reportedly link the elder Estrada to the disappearance last June 16, 1999 of casino employee Eduardo Bentain.

Bentain was identified by the former chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Manuel Morato as the one who gave him the controversial video clip, which showed then Vice-President Estrada playing high-stakes baccarat with his friend Charlie “Atong” Ang and Butch Tenorio, who was the casino’s general manager at the time.

The controversial video, taken on Sept. 15, 1996 at the VIP pit of the Heritage Hotel casino, was released by Morato before the May 1998 presidential elections allegedly in an effort to discredit Estrada, who was then topping all the surveys.

Bentain disappeared six months into the Estrada presidency.

The former president reiterated he was not involved in the disappearance of the casino employee, and that he should not be compared to Lacson.

"Lahat ng akusasyon sa akin, lasenggo ako kung anu-ano pa. Pero ni minsan di ako naakusahang mamamatay tao, di kamukha niya suspek sa kung anu-ano. Alam niyo na ibig ko sabihin," said the elder Estrada.

Lacson was previously accused in the extra-judicial killings of a kidnap-for-ransom gang called Kuratong Baleleng.

Jinggoy in jueteng also?

The younger Estrada, meanwhile, said there would be no let-up in his fight against Lacson. Jinggoy had earlier delivered a privilege speech to counter Lacson’s statements against his father in his Sept. 14 privilege speech.

"Huwag ka magtago sa cloak of parliamentary immunity ng Senado. Kung may reklamo ka, patunayan mo. Anytime, anywhere even outside of the Senate hall," dared the younger Estrada.

Jinggoy said that the next privilege speech of Lacson would reportedly point to his alleged involvement in receiving “payola” from jueteng (illegal numbers game) operations, as well as dwell on his “pork barrel” fund.

Jinggoy also denied any involvement in the case of the missing Bentain.

"Anong kinalaman namin sa Bentain? Baka sa susunod na linggo, sabihin niya si Michael Jackson naman, baka kami nagbigay ng gamot pang overdose,” said the younger Estrada.

Lacson’s political consultant Angelito Banayo had earlier told abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak that Lacson has evidence to prove the younger Estrada’s links to jueteng, the illegal numbers game that brought down the regime and later the conviction in 2007 of his father.

“He might just produce it,” said Banayo, who was also Estrada’s former political consultant and Cabinet member.

Jinggoy said, however, that he would be making his own exposé against Lacson next week.

Lacson, in his privilege speech last week, said the former president knew of the so-called Oplan Delta or the plot to kill Dacer 9 years ago, as well as the former leader's other alleged "shady" dealings when he was in Malacañang.

As part of his privilege speech at the Senate, he revealed Estrada's alleged connections to the illegal numbers game "jueteng" and other "shady" transactions.

Lacson did not directly say if the former president was involved in the crime, but revealed that he will deliver another privilege speech soon.

He also blasted his former boss for allegedly pointing fingers to cover up his knowledge of the plan to kill Dacer.

Lacson also touched on Estrada's second bid for the presidency as he closed his speech with "God save the Philippines from Joseph Ejercito Estrada." - reports of Sheryll Mundo, ABS-CBN News