June 5, 2001, Philippine Headline News, Lacson Masterminded Dacer Murder -- Suspect,

June 5, 2001, Philippine Headline News, Lacson Masterminded Dacer Murder -- Suspect,

Camp Crame, Quezon City, June 4, 2001 - Former Philippine National Police chief Panfilo Lacson was tagged today by Chief Insp. Glenn Dumlao of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force as the alleged "mastermind" in the slaying of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and driver Manuel Corbito.

A radio report said Dumlao identified Lacson as the person who allegedly ordered the liquidation of Dacer. The motive of Lacson was however unclear.

Dumlao was arrested today in a bus station, reportedly on his way to Baguio. He was then presented in a press conference by the Department of Justice, PNP, and Department of Interior and Local Government at Camp Crame this morning.

Dumlao was named in affidavits issued by suspects as the one who allegedly "relayed" the order to kill Dacer and Corbito. According to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Dumlao, so far, is the highest-ranking officer to have a direct hand in the killings.

Senior Supt. Reynaldo Berroya said Dumlao was the highest-ranking police officer indicted in the Dacer case.

Interior Secretary Jose Lina said the government will not stop until it has resolved the Dacer case. He said the DILG, the Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation and the National Police will continue to will coordinate efforts to pin down all the persons responsible for the two murders.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said his office would try to get Dumlao's cooperation to unmask the real masterminds behind the slaying.