Statement on Dacer-Corbito Case Development

We are not surprised by the decision of the Department of Justice to file informations against Senator Lacson for the deaths of Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and Emmanuel Corbito. From the very start, Senator Lacson made it clear that the DOJ, through then Secretary Raul Gonzales and through acting Secretary Agnes Devanadera, had prejudged the case against him and that the DOJ was going to indict him at any cost to silence him and to punish him for his exposės against the administration.

Senator Lacson has pending petitions with the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court to enjoin DOJ’s actions against him. It is his hope that these courts will now act on his petitions with urgency.

Moreover, Senator Lacson filed today an Omnibus Motion with the Regional Trial Court of Manila to consolidate the informations with Criminal Case No. 01-191969 pending before Branch 18 of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, “People vs. Aquino, et al.”, and to request that Court to dismiss the case against him for lack of probable cause. Senator Lacson’s indictment is based largely on one of several conflicting affidavits of Cesar Mancao who testified on an alleged conversation between Michael Ray Aquino and Senator Lacson on board a car in September-October 2000. That conversation never happened and even if it happened, what it shows at most is that Aquino informed Senator Lacson of the plot against Dacer. However, it is elementary that mere knowledge of a crime, or even mere approval thereof, does not constitute conspiracy, or make one liable for a crime committed by another.

We trust that the Regional Trial Court of Manila will appreciate the facts impartially and judiciously and dismiss the case against Senator Lacson as the DOJ should have. The High Court has had occasion to rule that courts must always be wary of undertones of political harassment. Senator Lacson implores the Court to make a painstaking review of the facts and determine for itself that political motivations have played a role in the actions of the DOJ to implead him in a criminal case 9 years after its trial had commenced.


POBLADOR BAUTISTA & REYES
Counsel for Senator Lacson
5th Floor, SEDCCO I Bldg.
Rada St., Legaspi Village, Makati City

By:
ALEXANDER J. POBLADOR, 0917-8977986
JAIME G. HOFILEÑA
JOSEPH JOEMER C. PEREZ
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Lacson to Colleagues: Heed IPU Call to Let Trillanes Attend Senate Sessions

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson called on his fellow senators Monday to heed the International Parliamentary Union (IPU)'s resolution to allow Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to attend regular Senate sessions.

Lacson said it is high time that the Committee on Rules act on at least two resolutions allowing Trillanes to fulfill his lawmaking duties by attending the sessions, even under heavy guard.

Lacson noted that as early as October 21 last year, the IPU Governing Council pushed for allowing Trillanes to attend Senate sessions at its 185th session.

The IPU resolution noted that while Trillanes was arrested and detained in July 2003, he was allowed to run for senator in May 2007 and was elected.

Despite earning a mandate from the people, his detention made him "virtually unable to carry out his parliamentary mandate," while his applications to be allowed to attend Senate sessions have been rejected by the court.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate Accounts Committee, is working to allow Trillanes to attend Senate sessions through video-conferencing - with the concurrence of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

The IPU had noted the Philippine Senate has adopted Senate Resolutions 3 and 765, effectively changing some rules to allow Trillanes to attend sessions, hearings and/or meetings through remote or electronic means.

On the other hand, the IPU voiced deep regrets the resolution has not yet been implemented, thus depriving Trillanes' electorate of representation in parliament. It called on competent Senate authorities "to ensure that the Resolution is implemented without further delay."

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