188 Interpol countries hunting down Ping

MANILA, Philippines - Nearly 200 countries are now on the lookout for Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who is wanted for the murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said 188 member-countries of the International Police (Interpol) had joined the manhunt for Lacson after the senator was officially placed on its “Red Notice” list.

NBI Interpol chief Claro de Castro said the Interpol had approved their application to place Lacson in its Red Notice list, which would mean the senator could be held for immediate deportation by the host country where he is supposedly hiding.

Lacson fled the country last Jan. 5, after a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Manila regional trial court.

De Castro explained Interpol member-countries, particularly those with an extradition treaty with the Philippines, could hold Lacson for immediate deportation.

“Then the extradition process will follow through our Department of Justice and the Justice department of that country. But it is still up to their discretion and we have to respect that. But what is definite, we will be immediately informed once the senator is located,” De Castro said.

While the Red Notice list is not an international warrant of arrest, Interpol member-countries can arrest Lacson by enforcing the warrant of arrest issued by the Manila court.

There were reports that Lacson flew to Hong Kong and then to Australia but this was denied by the NBI.

De Castro, however, said they are validating reports that Lacson had returned to the country through the southern backdoor.

Lacson’s defense lawyers, on the other hand, urged the court to recall the warrant of arrest against the senator.

In a 16-page Motion for Reconsideration, lawyers from the Poblador, Bautista, Reyes law office urged Manila RTC Branch 18 Judge Myra Garcia-Fernandez to reconsider her ruling on the issuance of the warrant of arrest on Lacson.

The lawyers urged the court to recall the Feb. 4 warrant and order the law enforcement agencies led by the NBI and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to desist serving the arrest warrant.

At the same time, the lawyers sought the voluntary inhibition of Fernandez and re-raffle of the case to another judge.

In a five-page motion “Motion for Voluntary Inhibition,” the lawyers said Fernandez should inhibit herself from hearing the case, arguing that the judge has shown bias against Lacson when she dismissed their motions seeking to dismiss the case and defer the issuance of the warrant of arrest.

Lawyers Alex Avisado and Alexander Poblador maintained there is no evidence to establish probable cause to merit the issuance of a warrant against Lacson, who fled abroad in a bid to evade arrest.

His lawyers argued that Lacson, being the chief of the defunct PAOCTF at the time of the murders, does not constitute probable cause.

The PAOCTF was the agency that was accused of carrying out the covert operation supposedly to silence Dacer.

They said the statements made by Mancao do not also mean Lacson had something to do with the murders.

“There is no reasonable connection between the accused’s position as head of PNP and PAOCTF and the crime allegedly committed by PAOCTF operatives. It is not reasonable to infer criminal culpability from the position that an accused holds, or to infer that the head of an organization is criminally responsible for the alleged crimes of his subordinates,” the lawyers said.

They likened Lacson to an employer who was charged for the criminal offense of his employees. 

The lawyers argued an employer could not be held criminally liable for the crime of his employee, much like a parent being held liable for the offense committed by his or her child.

In their motion seeking the inhibition of Fernandez, the lawyers pointed out the Manila judge has been recently recommended as justice of the Court of Appeals (CA) by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

They suggested the recommendation of Fernandez was approved by Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, a member of the JBC, in exchange for her issuance of warrant of arrest against Lacson.

The lawyers also argued that the arrest of Lacson was part of the political persecution of the administration.

Lacson had admitted escaping the country to evade what he called political harassment by the administration.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, on the other hand, urged Lacson to come out and follow the legal process to clear his name over the murders.

Puno said Lacson should set an example and observe the rule of law. -With Cecille Suerte Felipe