A front-page picture of a suspect in a double-murder case inside a fast-food restaurant— smiling like a candidate running for public office—has attracted attention, but Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Friday the photograph was “worth a thousand lies.”
She said the picture of Cezar Mancao at a crowded hamburger store was a fraud and a product of a “Photoshop” computer software in which the photograph was superimposed on a selected background.
“Of course, the NBI immediately saw the picture. It’s a mere Photoshop,” De Lima said.
Mancao, who was linked to the murder of publicist Bobby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000, escaped from NBI custody last week. He has been the object of a nationwide police manhunt.
Despite being on the lam, Mancao has been giving interviews to the media. His photo in the Philippine Star showed him holding a copy of the newspaper with last Thursday’s headlines.
Sought for comment regarding Mancao’s front-page photo, De Lima riled at the fugitive becoming a celebrity and said she has ordered an investigation to find out who was behind it.
“Is it Mancao, or is it reporters? She asked, adding that she was angry at the turn of events.
“I again blew my top because of what Mancao has been doing. He appears to spit at us … to insult us. We have become the laughing stock of the public because they might think we are inutile in looking for Mancao,” De Lima said.
She said the photograph showed Mancao in crowded restaurant but the people around him have turned their backs and not even one of them was looking at the man.
“Sa picture, bakit nakatalikod lahat ng tao sa loob ng Jollibee? De Lima asked.
NBI Director Caesar Nonnatus Rojas said agents have raided several known hideouts of Mancao who has been elusive, but the manhunt against the former police officer will continue.--Source: Manila Standard Today