Fiscal OKs charges by ‘ex-mistress’ vs Mancao

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City prosecutor’s office found probable cause to file charges against fugitive former police superintendent Cesar Mancao for allegedly harassing a woman who claimed to be his former mistress.

In a three-page resolution released to the media yesterday, assistant city prosecutor Jean Cajandab-Pamittan recommended that Mancao be charged with violating Republic Act 9262, also known as Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004, based on a complaint filed by Teresita Irene Abas in 2011.

Mancao is on trial for the murders of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito, in 2000. He escaped from the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation in May last year and has yet to surface.

Abas claimed that she suffered “verbal, physical, emotional abuse” at the hands of Mancao, with whom she engaged in an illicit affair. She accused him of violating RA 9262’s  Section 5 (h) (5), which prohibits “engaging any form of harassment or violence.”

She said that in 2011, Mancao went to her subdivision, stared at her angrily from his car and sped off. She claimed to have suffered nervousness and anxiety over what happened.

Abas earlier filed an affidavit of desistance, but later retracted it after Mancao allegedly reneged on his promise to provide financial support and to acknowledge in writing his paternity over their children.

In her resolution, Cajandab-Pamittan said Mancao did not appear during the scheduled preliminary investigation. The resolution was approved by recommending prosecutor Alfredo Agcaoili and city prosecutor Donald Lee.

Abas said Mancao did not take the news of her pregnancy well in September 2010. She said he allegedly loses his cool whenever she brings up the topic of the status of their relationship.

Abas alleged that Mancao made her believe that he would divorce his wife in the United States, while she would initiate proceedings to have her marriage annulled. She said he changed his mind and told her that she could not lose his marriage.

The complainant also claimed that Mancao would shout at her when she would confront him about his alleged relationships with other women, based on messages and calls on his phone.