Cezar Mancao escapes NBI custody; manhunt on

MANILA, Philippines - Former police superintendent Cezar Mancao, who testified that Sen. Panfilo Lacson and former President Joseph Estrada were involved in the murder of publicist Bubby Dacer, escaped from the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before dawn Thursday.

Reynaldo Esmeralda, NBI's deputy director for intelligence services, said Mancao escaped from his detention cell at around 1:14 a.m.

"Mag-isa siya. Dala niya ang bag niya palabas ng detention cell niya," Esmeralda said in a television interview, adding that Mancao's escape from his detention cell was caught by the NBI's closed-circuit television camera.

He added that they found a note from Mancao inside his detention cell.

"Please don't remove my thinks without proper inventory. I'm just a victim of injustice here. Thank you," Esmeralda said reading from Mancao's letter.

He said he was sure that the note was written by Mancao because he is very familiar with the former police officer's handwriting.

Esmeralda said he has sent text messages to Mancao urging the former police officer to surrender.

He said that the NBI's Intelligence Service has launched a nationwide manhunt.

Esmeralda added that investigations were also ongoing to determine if the former police officer received outside help in his escape.

Administrative charges were also being prepared against the two guards on duty when Mancao escaped, he added.

Esmeralda, meanwhile, said that an order directing the NBI to transfer Mancao to the Manila City jail could have prompted the escape.

He said they were ordered to transfer Mancao on May 1, but since it was a holiday they moved it to today (May 2).