Aquino, Mancao dropped from PNP rolls

Two ranking officials of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) have been dropped from the rolls of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Summary dismissal proceedings have been initiated against Senior Superintendents Michael Ray Aquino and Cesar Mancao, who sneaked out of the country amid charges that they were involved in the murders of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

Aquino vowed yesterday he would return to the country to clear his name. He was operations chief of the controversial PAOCTF while Mancao was the task force’s chief for Luzon.

PNP deputy chief for personnel Chief Superintendent Efren Fernandez said the two have been absent without leave (AWOL) and their names dropped from the roll for failure to report to their respective posts.

In an interview aired by ABS-CBN’s Korina Sanchez early last night, Aquino deplored that they were being persecuted by the Arroyo administration, and denied all the accusations against him and his comrades, including his alleged slaying of PAOCTF Chinese interpreter Angelito Sy.

He also declined to say when the left the country, or where he was at the moment. "I will not confirm or deny that we left the country, if you don’t mind."

He also lamented that the government canceled their passports in violation of their constitutional right to travel.

Following the disbandment of the PAOCTF last March on orders of President Arroyo, Aquino and Mancao were assigned to the PNP headquarters support service (HSS) battalion and holding center.

Apart from calling in saying they would report for duty soon, they never showed up.

Mancao and Aquino were being sought for their alleged involvement in kidnapping for ransom, drug trafficking, armed robbery and murder cases.

Witnesses have implicated them in the kidnapping and slaying of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito, in November last year, as well as the killing of Sy and the disappearance of PAOCTF agent SPO1 Roger Brosas.

HSS chief Superintendent Prospero Noble said the salaries and allowances of Mancao and Aquino have been withheld as the dismissal proceedings were being conducted.

Noble said Mancao called him up long distance last Aug. 1 inquiring if he could avail of the early retirement program.

Noble said Mancao was not yet qualified for the program since he has been in the service for only 15 years, five years short of the minimum requirement of 20 years. — Jaime Laude