Lacson, 13 others summoned by DOJ

Former Philippine National Police chief and senatorial candidate Panfilo Lacson and 13 other persons charged with kidnapping and murder were summoned by the justice department to appear and answer the charges before government prosecutors.

The three-man panel headed by Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera III had sent a subpoena for Lacson and 13 other respondents to make themselves available on May 18 for preliminary investigation.

Lacson’s kidnap-for-ransom and murder cases at the justice department stemmed from the complaint filed by Director Reynaldo Wycoco of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The complaint was based on the testimonies of former PACC and the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force informant Mary Ong and three other witnesses.

Named as respondents were Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Acop, Senior Superintendents John Campos, Teofilo Andrada, Michael Ray Aquino, Francisco Villaroman, Chief Inspectors Avelino Abogado, Meddel Dennis Ventura, private individuals Ricardo Watanaba, Denn Tuvera, Ralph Tuvera, Joey Ramirez and Senior Inspect Julius Mana.

They were held responsible for the kidnapping of Chinese nationals Zeng Jia Xuan, Hong Zhen Quiao, Zeng Kang Pang, James Wong and Wong Kam Chong, kidnap-slay of Chong Hiu Ming and murder of Wong Kam Chong.

"This complaint bolsters the report submitted to President Arroyo as one of the reasons why PAOCTF was disbanded. It became a criminal syndicate, itself," Justice Undersecretary Jose Calida told reporters. He said it is to Lacson’s interest to come out in the open and defend himself on the charges filed by the NBI, which was based on the testimonies of witnesses who allegedly knew of the activities of his men.

Ong disclosed in her affidavit that Lacson also played a vital role in the Dec. 30, 1998 kidnapping, illegal detention and murder of Chong Hiu Ming, along with Acop and Campos.

Ong also said that the respondents must answer charges for the kidnapping and illegal detention of Zeng Jia Xuan Hong Zhen Quiao, James Wong and Zeng Jia Xuan’s brother on March 26, 1999. According to Ong, all of the PAOCTF men and their cohorts, including Mana, should also be held responsible for the abduction, illegal detention and murder of Wong Kam Chong on March 26, 1999.

And so was the murder of Chong Hiu Ming on Aug. 28, 1999, upon which Lacson and his colleagues have "direct participation and knowledge" of their death, she stated in her affidavit.

"Perhaps it would be better for Lacson to come forward than for Colonel Reynaldo Berroya to find him," Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said. Berroya and Lacson have been at odds since 1992 when both were still assigned at the defunct Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC). The former was head of Task Force Lawin while the latter was chief of Task Force Habagat, both of which were under then PACC chief, vice president Joseph Estrada.

But Lacson reportedly put a fast one over his senior officer, getting the sympathy of Estrada. Berroya accused Lacson of filing trumped up charges of kidnapping for the 1993 abduction of Taiwanese Jack Chou. He was eventually acquitted in the case.