IN THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE
Chiz: 'Keep politics out of Dacer-Corbito murder case'

Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero on Monday warned the government against politicizing the revival of the Bubby Dacer-Emmanuel Corbito double-murder case, saying it should not be used to steamroller the opposition.

"I hope the government is out to ferret out the truth so justice may be served and not use this opportunity to suppress and even silence sections of the opposition," Escudero said in a statement.

The senator issued the statement in reaction to news reports that a key witness in the murder, former police officer Cesar Mancao, had executed and signed an affidavit in the United States tagging a number of personalities, allegedly including incumbent Senator Panfilo Lacson, a ranking member of the opposition.

Escudero said the government should handle the investigation of the case "with utmost sensitivity" as it could potentially be used for political ends.

"We should always advocate for and help in the search for truth and justice but we should not tolerate any attempts either to silence and suppress the opposition especially groups known to have long been fighting against this corrupt, insensitive, and incompetent government," he said.

Mancao had reportedly executed an affidavit last Feb. 14 in Broward County, Florida in the United States detailing his knowledge of the double-murder case, following his extradition from the US