The lawyer of fugitive Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson' believes that former police officer Michael Ray Aquino, ordered extradited by a US court, will not turn against his client. “The return of Michael Ray Aquino will not strengthen the case against Sen. Panfilo Lacson because he will never turn state witness against him,” Atty. Alex Avisado said in a text message. On Thursday, the US District Court of New Jersey in Newark granted the request of the Philippine government to extradite Aquino in connection with the killings of Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. Aquino, a former member of the now defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) is charged with conspiring with other individuals in the murder of Dacer and Corbito more than nine years ago. Avisado said unlike the other police official, Cezar Mancao, Aquino “has repeatedly turned down several tempting offers to testify against Sen. Lacson.” “We are confident he will not enter into a deal with a government that is already on its way out,” Avisado added. Meanwhile, the Dacer family lawyer said Aquino's testimony is the missing piece in the case since he was the next in rank to Lacson in PAOCTF. “He was also present when Lacson supposedly told Mancao to get rid of Dacer. He has the most valuable and extensive information on PAOCTF's operations,” said Atty. Demetrio Custodio. Lacson is facing murder charges before the Manila Regional Trial Court for allegedly masterminding the Dacer
