Lacson bares Ombudsman probe, smear job on him
Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday bared that the Office of the Ombudsman is investigating him in what he said was the start of a lifestly check and the renewed drive to link him to the murder of a public relations executive nearly 10 years ago.
In his letter to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, Lacson made public the not-so-discreet investigation being conducted by some Ombudsman officials against him.
ABS-CBN News has learned acting director Joselito Fangon of the Ombudsman’s graft investigating bureau has subpoenaed Lacson’s personal and public records, among them his Statement of Assets and Liabilities from 2001-2004 and 2007 and certificate of compensation for the same period.
Aside from these, Lacson’s personal data sheet and service record were included as subjects of the subpoena.
Lacson said he suspects the move to subpoena his Senate records was the start of a lifestyle check on him and part of what he calls a fresh vilification campaign against him by administration supporters.
“I’m ready naman to be investigated in a fair arena pero hindi ‘yung witchhunt hindi naman ako nagnanakaw eh.”
Lacson identified Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza, chief of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), as one of those at the forefront of the alleged vilification campaign.
Dacer-Corbito link
The senator said Prestoza was trying to link him anew to the double murder case involving public relations executive Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito, in November 2000.
Lacson said this time, Prestoza is employing the “testimony” from former police senior superintendent Cesa Mancao who was one of his men in the defunct Presidential Anti-Crime Task Force.
Mancao went to the United States after he was linked to the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case in the 1990s.
“Lumabas nga si Mancao sa florida, kinausap daw siya ni Prestoza para ibaon ako, idiin ako sa Dacer case…Ang tinitingnan nila, kumuha ng isang witness na tulad ni Mancao, papangakuan ng langit at lupa. In Mancao’s case, aalagaan ang pamilya, makakauwi sa bansa, mare-reinstate, gagawing heneral,” the senator siad.
Lacson also linked former PSG chief, now Southern Luzon Command head Maj. Gen. Delfin Bangit to the alleged demolition job.
Bangit and Prestoza are both members of Philippine Military Academy’s Class of 1978, which is coincidentally, the adoptive class of President Arroyo.
Lacson said he sees one possible motive to this supposed project of Class 78 cavaliers.
“This is all about a rat race for the chief of staff positio…Undoubtedly, I’m number one in the hate list of President Arroyo so sino man ang unang makadale sa akin, siguradong may gantimpala,” he said.
Not true, says Prestoza
In his rejoinder to Lacson’s letter, Prestoza denied he or his agency was spearheading a vilification campaign against the opposition senator.
“[ISAFP has] never conducted a vilification campaign against the good senator, nor did [I] give any order or instruction to conduct discreet investigation on his public and personal records,” the letter said.
Prestoza added that he has not given any order to investigate Lacson based on his public and personal records.
Lacson, however, is convinced his fellow PMAers were out to get him, hence this appeal.
” ‘Wag naman akong gawing tuntungan. They should rise on their own merits,” he said.
Lacson came from the PMA Class of 1971.
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