Huwebes, Mayo 2, 2013

Mancao's ex-lawyer asks him to surrender


May 2, 2013 5:15pm

A lawyer who previously represented former Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case on Thursday asked the escaped suspect to return to the fold of the law.
In an interview with GMA News Online, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio even disclosed that he was willing to return as Mancao's lawyer in the celebrated case.
"I am calling on my compadre 'Boy' Mancao to turn himself in, and if it is necessary for me to again give my assistance to him, I will gladly do so," Topacio said.
Mancao escaped from detention at the National Bureau of Investigation early Thursday morning.
Topacio said he understood Mancao if he feared for his life once he gets transferred to the Manila City Jail.
"Naging police din naman siya, law enforcer, so alam niya may mga naatraso siya doon sa city jail at napakulong niya na who might be seeking vengeance," Topacio said.
The lawyer said that apart from people inside the city jail who might threaten him, Mancao also has "enemies outside who are influential."
Mancao fled to the United States in July 2001, several months after being embroiled in the twin killings of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.
Mancao was extradited and was brought back to the Philippines in June 2009. The prosecution in the double murder case had earlier tried but failed to have Mancao discharged and be turned into a state witness.
In 2012, Topacio decided to give up his legal services to Mancao so as not to prejudice the former police official.
Apart from representing Mancao at the time, Topacio was also representing other clients like the Arroyo couple, former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and businessman Lope Jimenez (Ruby Rose Barrameda murder) in pending cases with the Department of Justice.
"I was seriously prejudicing my client Mancao in the DOJ. So I resigned as his counsel late last year," Topacio said.
Topacio said he hoped the "unfortunate affair" of Mancao's escape would serve as a lesson to the government to treat "all those who stood for truth and justice fairly and decently."
"Mancao, who has risked everything – life, honor, family – has remained living the life of a miserable prisoner, who cannot earn a living, away from family and friends, without livelihood and liberty and neglected by the State that had initially sought his help," Topacio said. — RSJ, GMA News