Philippine senator facing arrest warrant in murder case alleges conspiracy

Manila: A regional trial court in the Philippines has issued a warrant for the arrest of senator Panfilo Lacson for his alleged involvement in the murder of a publicist and his driver in 2000.

Judge Myra Fernandez of the Manila Regional Trial Court issued the arrest warrant a month after the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed two counts of murder charges against Lacson for allegedly masterminding the killing of Salvador ‘Bubby' Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito, in 2000.

Copies of the warrant of arrest were given to the justice department and Lacson's lawyers.

Lacson, however, left for Hong Kong on January 5. The National Bureau of Investigation said Lacson could still be in Hong Kong and not in Australia as reported by some of his colleagues. The justice department said the government could suspend Lacson's passport and file for his extradition from Hong Kong.

Arroyo blamed

"I am not guilty but I cannot risk putting my life and security at the mercy of that evil conspiracy," Lacson said in a statement after reporters noticed his absence in the senate. He also blamed President Gloria Arroyo for allegedly "seeing my life miserable and in danger".

"I am a victim of a conspiracy of whispers between [President] Arroyo and her stooge in the Department of Justice," he claimed. "For now, my concern is my own personal safety and security. This is one case that I will dispute the argument — flight is an indication of guilt," he added.

Lacson, a former national police chief during the time of former president Joseph Estrada, has repeatedly denied his involvement in the twin murders. In a speech at the senate last year, he said Estrada had "micro-managed" the police.

Dacer worked as a publicist of former president Fidel Ramos and the opposition at a time when an impeachment complaint was filed against Estrada (for alleged corrupt practices) in the House of Representatives.