De Lima: Mancao’s escape a major setback to DOJ, NBI credibility

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday said the escape of former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila is turning out to be a public relations nightmare and major setback to the credibility of the NBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

De Lima, who attended the graduation of 24 new agents from the NBI’s 46th Basic Training Course, said the unfortunate incident has undermined the bureau and the DOJ but they are doing everything to recapture Mancao, who escaped last Thursday from his NBI detention cell.

“I feel so depressed because this is a slap not only to the NBI but also to the DOJ. But the NBI is trying its best to get him, although his training and background is making it hard for the pursuing agents,” she said.

De Lima said there is no bounty yet for the recapture of Mancao because it is not necessary at this time as the NBI intensely moves to get him.

However, she admitted that she has totally lost contact with the fugitive police officer.

De Lima was able to talk to Mancao hours after he escaped.

“I think he is trying to contact other people, but not me. I don’t want to call him. I don’t want to make it appear that if we will adopt a soft stance, the more he will flex his muscle. I think the best way is to be really tough on him so he would feel the pressure and he is pushed to the wall so that he would have no choice but to surrender,” she said.

De Lima said her only message to Mancao is “give yourself up.”

“In the media he said he will not surrender and I don’t want to look like we are begging him. He insulted us by escaping, now his only option is to turn himself in,” she said.

De Lima added that once Mancao is recaptured he will be brought immediately to the NBI “but I will ask his lawyers to immediately file the proper motion to the Manila Regional Trial Court committing him to the city jail.”

She said Mancao, as per intelligence reports, is very much around and will not be able to leave the country because the NBI is tightening its noose on locations where he has been monitored.

She said the agents have missed him on several occasions.

Show evidence

On Mancao’s allegation that there is corruption in the Witness Protection Program (WPP), De Lima said he should come up with evidence so there could be an investigation.

“What hurts here is that I am the chief implementor of the WPP, therefore I feel offended with his sweeping and very reckless accusations against the program. I’m not saying that the WPP is perfectly run. I’m not saying that WPP has no problems. A program like that is very sensitive to undertake so we have problems from time to time, but I can tell you that enough reforms had been instituted since I came in,” she said.– With Jess Diaz