MANILA, June 28, 2011— Catholic bishops called on former police officer Michael Ray Aquino to help resolve the Dacer-Corbito double murder case by telling the truth.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez and retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz urged Aquino not to be afraid and clarify his alleged involvement in the decade-long case.
The bishops believe that Aquino’s testimony could help attain justice for slained public relations man Savador “Bubby†Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.
“He should tell information that could help solve the case. The truth must come out for the good of the nation,†said Iñiguez over Church-run Radio Veritas.
“The truth will set you free,†said Cruz, who is a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Last Sunday, Aquino arrived in the Philippines after he was extradited by the US government to face charges of involvement for the case.
He, however, immediately cleared Estrada and Lacson from the case insisting that he, along with the two, are innocent.
Aquino is one of the principal suspects in the Dacer-Corbito killing allegedly upon the instructions of former president Joseph Estrada and Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
Dacer and Corbito disappeared in November 2000, at the height of calls for the impeachment of then President Joseph Estrada on corruption charges.
The two bishops said that just like all the Filipino people, they are equally eager for the resolution of the November 2000 murder case.
“The case of long-standing should finally be resolved and the real murderers, whoever they are, should be brought to justice,†said Cruz. (CBCPNews)
