Senator Panfilo Lacson appears, back in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – After dropping from public view for over a year, Senator Panfilo Lacson arrived in Manila, Saturday night. He’s onboard on a plane from Mactan, Cebu with registry number RP-C2711 that landed at the airport at 6:40 PM. He arrived without warning at the Mactan International Airport in Cebu from Hong Kong on board with Cathay Pacific flight CX-921 long before noon. He was met by immigration officials from Manila.

Lacson allegedly fled from the Philippines last January 2010 following the Manila Regional Trial Court ordered his arrest in link with the Dacer-Corbito murder case. The senator declared he was being persecuted for divulging corruption cases in opposition to then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her spouse.

Lacson was included in the Interpol’s red notice list after an arrest warrant was issued by Judge Myra Garcia Fernandez of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18 against Lacson. While on the red list, Lacson could be deported, depending on existing treaties, or extradited.

March 22, his name was officially removed from the Interpol’s “red” notice list on the request of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following an order from the Court of Appeals nullifying the arrest warrant issued against the senator.