Biyernes, Mayo 3, 2013

Mancao told: Surrender to get full protection


Friday, May 3, 2013
MANILA -- Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II urged on Friday fugitive Cezar Mancao to surrender to get the full protection of the state.
In an interview at Naga City where he accompanied President Benigno Aquino III, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief said that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has already assured Mancao that he would be placed in a secure custodial facility.
"I understand what he's thinking and maybe there's really a threat on him...but my advice to Mr. Mancao, who is a fugitive now, his situation now is more dangerous because he doesn't have the protection from the state. My advice for him is it is better to place himself again under the protection of the state...under the state custody," he said.
Roxas said that anybody could hurt the former police officer now that he is in hiding.
Mancao, one of the suspects in the murders of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, escaped from his detention cell at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before dawn on Thursday.
He claimed that Senator Panfilo Lacson would order him killed once he is transferred to a regular jail. Lacson allegedly masterminded the Dacer-Corbito double murder case but he was later cleared by the Supreme Court.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said President Aquino is now leaving up to De Lima theinvestigation on Mancao's escape.
He could not say if NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas would also be investigated or suspended just like what happened to former Bureau of Corrections chief Gaudencio Pangilinan, who eventually resigned after Rolito Go's escape from the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City.
"Let me verify with Secretary De Lima, just to be sure. I don’t want to hazard a guess without asking her directly. I will give you an answer later," Lacierda said.
In a text message later in the day quoting De Lima, Lacierda said, "We will let the course of the investigation determine who will be held accountable for the escape of Mr. Mancao from custody."
"Up to what level the culpability will reach, we'll let the facts and the evidence that may be gathered decide that," De Lima said.
As of Friday, the NBI filed charges against two if its members who were blamed for Mancao’s escape.
Rojas said relieved jail guards Pablo Remalante and Ibrahim Musa faced inquest proceedings at the Manila Prosecutor's Office on Friday and responded to allegation of infidelity in the custody of prisoners, an offense punishable with imprisonment under Article 224 of the Revised Penal Code.
Remalante and Musa were the guards on duty when Mancao left his cell carrying a travel bag and wearing a bull cap, based on footage taken by security camera. They are currently detained at the NBI. (SDR/Sunnex)