FVR, Estrada willing to talk on Dacer slay

Former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada both expressed willingness yesterday to cooperate in the investigation of the kidnap-murder of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer.

"I will attend the inquiry if that is needed," Estrada said at a press conference in Naga City where he led the campaign of opposition senatorial candidates.

Estrada appeared to have had a change of heart as he earlier resented insinuations that he had a hand in the double murder.

"Why should I (allow myself to be interrogated?) I have nothing to do with that Dacer case," an indignant Estrada said Friday night.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said on Friday he wanted the two former leaders to shed light on the case.

He explained that Ramos may be able to contribute significant information since he was the first person to report Dacer’s disappearance following the publicist’s failure to show up for their appointment at the Manila Hotel on Nov. 24.

Perez said Estrada would also be interviewed because Dacer’s daughter had said the ousted leader and her father had an altercation at Malacañang two days before he was snatched by armed men along South Superhighway corner Zobel Roxas Street at the boundary of Manila and Makati City.

Other prominent persons who may be asked to shed light on the case are former National Security Adviser Jose Almonte, Ombudsman Aniano Desierto and Caloocan Rep. Luis "Baby" Asistio.

President Arroyo said she would support any findings that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) may come up with.

The President also chided former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Panfilo Lacson, now a senatorial candidate of the opposition coalition Puwersa ng Masa, for denying complicity in the kidnapping and murder of Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito.

NBI operatives arrested on Wednesday two farmers form Barangay Bona Lejos I in Indang town, Cavite who have admitted their participation in the twin slayings.

Suspects Jimmy Lopez and Alex Diloy alleged that at least six agents of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) delivered the two victims to a garage owned by Jimmy’s brother William in the evening of Nov. 24.

The suspects said Dacer and Corbito, who were trussed up and blindfolded, were taken later to a creek where they were strangled to death with a piece of electric cord before their bodies were doused with petroleum and burned in a pyre of firewood and discarded car tires.

Lacson was concurrent chief of the PAOCTF prior to his retirement shortly after the historic, military-backed people power II that unseated Estrada and installed then Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the new president.

At the press conference, Estrada told reporters he had no animosity with Dacer even as the public relations practitioner had joined the camp of Ramos and Almonte.

"I understood his position in the Ramos administration. Hanap-buhay lamang ’yan (He was just earning a living)," Estrada said.

He pointed out that Dacer was his long-time friend, and that he even stood as one of the sponsors at the wedding of Dacer’s daughter.

At the same time, Estrada bewailed Almonte’s move of making public a letter purportedly written by Dacer expressing serious concern for his safety.

"Bakit ngayon lang niya sinabi ito? Dahil ba sa kampanya? (Why did he reveal this only now? Is it because of the political campaign?)" Estrada asked.

Viña faces dismissal

PAOCTF-Visayas chief Senior Superintendent Teofilo Viña, who was tagged by Lopez and Diloy as the team leader of the six PAOCTF agents who snatched and killed Dacer and Corbito, appeared to have gone into hiding and now faces summary dismissal.

PNP chief Director General Leandro Mendoza gave Viña an ultimatum to show up or be discharged from the service.

Camp Crame sources said Viña initially went on emergency leave, but has not reported back for work even as his leave expired.

Rumors had it that Viña had filed for early retirement.

PNP Region 7 director chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr. said Viña was spotted in Cebu City last week.

Razon said Viña has flown back to Manila on board a Philippine Airlines plane.

Lopez and Diloy tagged Viña as the one who gave the orders to kill Dacer and Corbito.

The two suspects also led NBI forensic experts to an unmarked grave where burnt bones and teeth believed to be those of Dacer and Corbito were dug up.

Meanwhile, Cavite Gov. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. said Viña was a "much-feared" policeman in his province who could be capable of doing anything.

Revilla admitted that because of Viña’s reputation, he blocked his appointment as police director of Cavite.

Meanwhile, Perez said laboratory findings on the bones and teeth recovered from the unmarked grave in Indang may no longer be relevant.

Perez clarified that Lopez and Diloy have already identified the remains as those of Dacer and Corbito.

"Forensic examination is only corroborative of the positive identification by the two witnesses," the secretary said.

"It’s possible that because the bodies (of Dacer and Corbito) were so burned, there may not be enough tissues for forensic examiners to determine the DNA of the victims," Perez added.

While Perez admitted that the whole case may crumble if it is proven that the remains are not those of Dacer and Corbito, he justified the arrest of Lopez and Diloy, saying the two have identified the remains.

The justice secretary also said Dacer’s heirs could use the sworn affidavits of Lopez and Diloy to claim death insurance benefits. "A death certificate can be issued. Insurance companies allow this, with just the affidavits of witnesses."

The justice department filed on Friday double murder charges against three PAOCTF operatives and 11 other persons, including Diloy and Lopez.

Charged were SPO4 Marino Soberano, SPO3 Jose Escalante and Mauro Torres, Crisostomo Purificacion, Digo de Pedro, Renato and Jovencio Malabanan, William and Jimmy Lopez, Margarito Cueno, Diloy and Rommel Rollan.

The NBI said it is likely that Viña may also be charged pending discovery of solid evidence against the police official.–Marichu Villanueva, Efren Danao, Sandy Araneta, Jemelie Mayacap