CEBU, Philippines - After more than a year in hiding, Senator Panfilo Lacson has returned to the country, days after the Court of Appeals warned anybody who orders his arrest could be charged with arbitrary detention.
On board Cathay Pacific Flight CX 921, Lacson arrived at the Mactan Cebu International Airport around 11:42 yesterday morning.
In a text message, Philippine National Police spokesman Agrimero Cruz said the senator was met with immigration officials from Manila headed by Danilo Almeda.
Around 4:30 p.m. Lacson left Cebu for Manila on board a private Baron-type airplane (RPC 2711).
It was earlier reported that the senator was scheduled to depart for Manila at 8 p.m. through Philippine Air Lines (PAL) Flight PR 864.
Lacson left the country last year apparently to evade arrest on accusation that he masterminded the killing of publicist Roberto “Bobby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.
A source said that he chose Cebu upon his to return to the country to avoid massive media coverage if he passed through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Lacson’s return came several days after the court lifted the warrant of his arrest.
He left the country on January 5, 2010, two days before he was charged with double murder before the court for his alleged involvement in the killings of Dacer and Corbito in November 2000.
The victims were allegedly killed upon the order of Lacson because Dacer was not in good term with then President Joseph Estrada. Lacson headed the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force that time.
Police authorities in Cebu have no details about Lacson’s arrival.
“Wala kaming advance information,” Police Regional Office-7 Director Ager Ontog said.
“We were informed after his arrival this morning. There is no official coordination with our office regarding his visit,” Cebu City Police Office director Melvin Ramon Buenafe told The FREEMAN.
The FREEMAN sources at the airport said Lacson was among those who first to come out of the aircraft.
Lacson, who served for more than three years as chief of the defunct Cebu Metrodiscom, did not wear dark glasses or cap upon his arrival.
“Nagsul-ob ra siya sa kinaham niya nga checkered shirt,” one of the flight passengers told THE FREEMAN.
A person in civilian attire met Lacson at the lobby of the airport.
Cruz said Lacson can now move freely because the court has already lifted the arrest warrant issued against him.
The senator’s arrival from abroad has disproved reports that he was just hiding in the country, especially in Cebu. He, however, was not spotted here during the time of his hiding.
Lacson and former PRO-7 director Tiburcio Fusilero were classmates at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
Lacson’s name on the red notice list of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has already been removed after the warrant of his arrest was lifted.
He is scheduled to hold a press conference in Manila tomorrow. — With a report from Niña G. Sumacot /LPM (THE FREEMAN)