Palace hands off on Lacson chase

MALACANANG will leave the hunt for Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) following recent reports that the senator was spotted in Rome, Italy.

Presidential spokesperson Ricardo Saludo said the NBI has already relayed the case of Lacson to the Interpol and other embassies and consulates in the world to help in locating the fugitive official.

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Interpol is the world’s largest international police organization, with 188-member countries, created to assists countries in preventing and combating international crime.

“First of all, Lacson’s case is already in the hands of the NBI and DOJ and as what we know this case was already transported to the Interpol and they are trying to locate Lacson’s whereabouts,” Saludo said.

Lacson face murder charges in connection with the killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver’s Emmanuel Corbito about 10 years ago.

The senator’s name has been placed on the red notice of the Interpol and on the Bureau of Immigration watchlist to be able to locate him.

Justice Secretary Alberto Agra said the latest information that reached them revealed that Senator Lacson “went or passed by in Rome.” He however did not elaborate the supposed sighting, citing ongoing operations against Lacson.

Lacson fled the country on January 5 to elude arrest by the Arroyo government, which he alleged to be bias on his case in revenge to his exposes and scandals against the administration.

Authorities said the lawmaker was sighted in Hong Kong while other reports said he is just staying in the country.

“Once we have confirm reports about his sighting we have a process in arresting him and we hope that he will be brought back in the country,” said Saludo.

Saludo added that the Interpol should first locate the exact location of Lacson before the local authorities and justice officials could step in.

He said there has to be extradition treaty in the country where Lacson is hiding for him to be extradited to the Philippines.

The Palace official furthered that he is not sure if there is extradition treaty in Rome but assured the Philippines and Rome has a good diplomatic relationship.

“If there is no extradition agreement, the government could still appeal for a diplomatic request to deport Lacson.”

Four daughters of Dacer on Wednesday asked a Manila court to order the cancellation of Lacson’s Philippine passport so that authorities could locate him easily and prevent him from jumping from one country to another. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)