Not so surprising revelations

I SHUDDER at the revelations of the affidavit of Cesar Mancao implicating former Pres. Joseph Estrada, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, himself and the two other high-ranking PAOCTF officials, Michael Ray Aquino and Glenn Dumlao in the Dacer- Corbito double murder case. Much of what he revealed is no longer surprising as they have already been accepted as truth since the discovery of the pair’s charred bodies. Erap and Lacson are the only ones who had the motive, the means and, how shall I put it, “guts” to pull it off. Still, reading all about how these men planned and executed the operation is chilling. The entire thing seemed so casual to them, like an everyday “operation.” You conclude that these are the types of people you wouldn’t want to get into the simplest argument or traffic altercation with. I remember that some men were once roughed up and arrested by Michael Ray Aquino and they later tearfully complained that they were tortured. These people kill. They murder. Equally distressing are the seeming total lack of remorse and the temerity of these personalities to claim they are innocent. Lacson even has the gall to say that he can look anyone in the eye and tell them that he had nothing to do with the murders. It would seem remotely possible if not for the ghost of Kuratong Baleleng. Meanwhile, Erap denied he’s the “Bigote”--being referred to in the affidavit, who reacted indifferently when told that Dacer had already been “neutralized.” He even has plans to run for office again. Who made these monsters? How did they become inhuman as to abduct, torture and murder so easily? And totally profess innocence so convincingly you would think they may have a split personality. What killed their conscience, their humanity? I tremble at the thought of it all, that we have monsters in our midst who occupy the highest positions in government. My beloved country, I weep for you. Anne Mendoza, Quezon City, via e-mail