Inter-agency task force prepares for arrival of Dumlao

MANILA, Philippines - The inter-agency task force against political violence and unexplained killings has assured the public of the safe arrival tomorrow morning of former senior superintendent Glenn Dumlao, another suspect in the killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, chair of Task Force 211, yesterday said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have already coordinated to secure the Ninoy Aquino International Airport where Dumlao will arrive at around 4:45 a.m. aboard a Philippine Airlines flight.

Blancaflor confirmed that Dumlao would arrive with his lawyer Morell Callueng and two NBI officials who fetched him in the United States. They will leave Los Angeles at 10:35 p.m. on July 24 (US time).

He said only Dumlao’s lawyer would be allowed to talk to the media upon arrival at the airport.

“The turnover of Dumlao by US Marshals to Philippine authorities will be done inside the Los Angeles International Airport. He will be immediately transported to the NBI headquarters for processing upon arrival,” Blancaflor said.

Dumlao’s return to the country was earlier approved by the US Justice Department after the submission of his required deposition in the pending extradition case against a fellow suspect, former senior superintendent Michael Ray Aquino, before a federal district court in New Jersey.

No legal impediment

There is no legal impediment for the extradition of Dumlao, the NBI said.

The NBI’s announcement was made after receiving a media advisory from the Task Force Against Political Violence and Extra-Judicial Killings (Task Force 211), which the bureau is a part of.

The NBI agents had finalized with the US Marshals the turnover of Dumlao to Philippine authorities, the advisory said.

A team of NBI agents left last July 21 for Los Angeles to fetch Dumlao.

An NBI source said lawyer Claro de Castro Jr., chief of NBI Interpol Division, and head agent Arnel Dalumpines, chief of the NBI’s Special Task Force (STF), were ordered to escort Dumlao from Los Angeles back to the Philippines.

Dumlao had until July 20 to file his deposition before the United States court.   – Edu Punay, Sandy Araneta