By Joseph G. Lariosa

(Journal Group Link International)

C HICAGO, Illinois (JGLi) – The United States-based lawyer of Cezar O. Mancao II condemned Friday (Sept. 4) the “brutal and senseless killing of Jimmy Lopez,” the former civilian agent of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), who was set to testify before the Department of Justice Thursday (Sept. 3) on the Dacer-Corbito murders.

Arnedo S. Valera said, “I call on Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera to vigorously and strongly investigate the killing of Lopez within the direct angle of Dacer-Corbito double murder cases. 

"Secretary Devanadera should strongly recommend an independent investigation of Lopez killing and other material witnesses to this double murder cases and the removal of the investigation from the hands of Superintendent Alfred Corpus, the Cavite provincial police director, who already made pronouncements of two other possible angles of the killing i.e., drug related and love angle.”

Valera feels that the life his client, Mr. Mancao, could also be in jeopardy if the Lopez’s killing remains unsolved. He said, “I strongly fear for my client's physical safety and security. Because he is a high-profile state witness, the media and the public knowledge of him became effective deterrents for those who wanted to kill him.”

He lamented that Lopez, being an ordinary citizen, was kept secret from the eagle eye scrutiny of the media and the public. “This is not the kind of justice system that we would like to have: where the standards of security and safety to state witnesses are determined whether they are high profile or not. It does not augur well to the type of justice system we have in the Philippines.”

He added Lopez might have opted out of the Witness Protection Programs for reasons unknown to the public. But he remains a state witness and it is the main responsibility of the DOJ to secure his physical safety.

As the investigation of the Dacer-Corbito progresses, more killings are expected, Valera said. The media and the public should have all the information of all the names of vital and material witnesses in this double-murder case.

“Obviously keeping them away from the public eye only increases the risks of their summary executions and killings to make this heinous crimes remain unsolved.” he added.

Lopez is believed to the second suspect in the Dacer-Corbito murders to be slain. The first one was former Superintendent Teofilo Vina.

It was reported that Lopez, former chairman of Barangay Buna Lejos in Indang, Cavite, was killed with a woman companion.

It was also reported Lopez was shot 17 times while his woman companion, 16 times.

Lopez was also linked to the kidnapping and slaying of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and Dacer’s driver, Emmanuel Corbito, in 2000. # # # (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)

JOSEPH G. LARIOSA
P.O. BOX 805072
CHICAGO IL 60680-4112
Telefax 773.283.5986