Manila : The justice department has issued a hold departure order against opposition Senator Panfilo Lacson who was reported missing since last month, following reports that a double murder case will be filed against him in connection with the killing of a publicist and his driver in 2000, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said in a radio interview.
Lacson was placed on the immigration watchlist on January 8, but at the time, there was no hold order issued against him, explained Bureau of Immigrations Commissioner Marcelino Libanan. TV reports said Lacson has been missing since two weeks ago. The senator has reportedly told Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that he could not attend the Senate's session for the moment.
A Manila newspaper also reported that Lacson went to Australia on January 18 with Enrile giving clearance that the senator is on an "official trip".
Senator Aquilino Pimentel, minority floorleader of the Senate, also said that Lacson was allowed to go on leave.
Lacson was among the senators who called for the investigation of Senator Manuel Villar, presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party, for his alleged realignment of a major road project so that it would traverse the latter's home development projects in southern Manila.
Lacson, who chairs the ethics committee, was expected to attend the Senate's plenary sessions where Villar's case was discussed.
Affidavit
Lacson was formally implicated in the celebrated killing of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver Manuel Corbito after a former senior police officer went back to the Philippines last year and executed an affidavit saying the senator had ordered the killing.
Before becoming a senator, Lacson was director-general of the Philippine National Police during the abbreviated term of President Joseph Estrada.
Dacer was the publicist of the opposition when Estrada was facing impeachment in 2000. Estrada was ousted in a civilian uprising the following year.
In his privilege speech at the Senate, Lacson hinted that Dacer was killed on orders from a man he called "bigote" (Filipino for moustache) whom many believe was an indirect reference to Estrada who sports a moustache.
