Court orders NBI to protect Mancao during hearings

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Regional Trial Court has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to ensure former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao II’s safety for the trial tomorrow.

“We are directed to bring Mancao there and the NBI remains the sole agency tasked to provide security for Mancao,” NBI spokesman Ricardo Diaz said yesterday.

Mancao was among the principal accused in the murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

Diaz said the NBI has already mapped out measures to ensure Mancao would attend the trial safely.

Mancao is being kept by the NBI in a safehouse under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Mancao’s custody was granted on July 25, a day before another possible witness, former police superintendent Glenn Dumlao arrived from the US after extradition.

Mancao had agreed to turn state witness against his co-accused and identify the brains behind the slaying.

While in the US awaiting his extradition to the Philippines, Mancao executed an affidavit naming his former police boss, now Sen. Panfilo Lacson, as among the principal suspects in the killing. Lacson had denied the allegations.

Diaz said Mancao is still considered as an accused, and he has yet to be removed from the list of the accused in the case.

He said Mancao is not allowed to leave the safehouse except to attend the trial.

Dumlao’s arraignment was deferred to Aug. 26 while Mancao pleaded not guilty to the charges of double murder during his arraignment on June 30.

“Dumlao wants to become a state witness. Something like to tell all,” Diaz said.

He said the court has yet to set dates of trials that would require Mancao and Dumlao to attend hearings at the same time.

Diaz said the NBI would bring Mancao and Dumlao to appear before the court only if there is an order that their appearances are necessary.

“As of now, it is unlikely that they will see each other soon. Maybe in the subsequent hearings,” he said. – Sandy Araneta