De Lima keeps lines open for Mancao

Despite the humiliation caused by the escape of former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao II, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday said she is keeping her lines open to the fugitive former police officer.

De Lima said she tried to contact Mancao to clarify the circumstances behind his front page photo in The STAR last Friday, to prove that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not abandoned him as claimed.

“I never turn (off) my cellphone. I was trying to call him but he could not be reached,” she said.

De Lima denied Mancao’s allegations that the DOJ has already abandoned him after using him as witness against Sen. Panfilo Lacson in the November 2000 killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

Mancao said his lines to De Lima are still open, but the justice chief apparently abandoned him.

De Lima earlier admitted she has communicated with Mancao twice on the day he escaped from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last May 2.

But De Lima stressed she would only talk to Mancao to convince him to surrender – nothing else.

“I would only entertain him if he will say he is ready to surrender. Other than that, I’m not open to it anymore,” she said.

De Lima was fuming over Mancao’s insinuations of corruption in the Witness Protection Program and over his media interviews. She said they made the DOJ and NBI look inutile.

She was also angered by the publication of Mancao’s photo in The STAR, which the NBI said was altered.

De Lima ordered an investigation on the reporter who obtained the photo from the Mancao via email.

Even if Mancao has already been dropped from the WPP following his escape, De Lima said the DOJ remains dutybound to convince the fugitive former police officer to surrender for his own good.

“It doesn’t mean that since we’re running after him, we would not care about his security anymore. We are still concerned about his security as a matter of duty and a matter of conscience. Other than that, we don’t care anymore,” she said.

Despite her frustration and anger, De Lima admitted she believes there could basis in Mancao’s fear for life that prompted him to escape.

“What he’s saying – that he could get killed in jail – is possible since he happens to be involved in one of the most sensational and high-profile cases in this country that has long remained unclosed. And because of the personalities involved, we can’t just ignore his fear,” she said.

De Lima stressed Mancao could only get help from DOJ in convincing the Manila regional trial court to reconsider its order for his transfer from the NBI to the Manila city jail if he surrenders.

“I think the (Manila) RTC can at least listen. It will be up to the RTC to weigh and determine the credibility of the claim,” she said.

De Lima earlier said there could be other motives in the escape – to sabotage the DOJ and NBI, political motive or just a grand publicity and campaign stint of Mancao who is running for provincial board member in Compostela Valley.

What she said for sure is that Mancao is being aided by some people in hiding from authorities and warned they could face obstruction of justice charges.

Mancao escaped after the Manila RTC dismissed the bid of the DOJ to discharge him as accused in the double murder case.

Lacson, who also went into hiding after being implicated in the case, was already cleared by the Court of Appeals.

The two other officials tagged in the crime were also absolved. The RTC had granted the demurrer to evidence plea of co-accused former police senior superintendent Michael Ray Aquino and former police superintendent Glenn Dumlao as accused.

De Lima also confirmed that an earlier investigation showed no proof linking former President Joseph Estrada to the murders.