The Department of Justice (DoJ) is waiting for the court to issue a warrant of arrest against Sen. Panfilo Lacson in connection with the deaths of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said Wednesday.

Devanadera also denied the DoJ has been harassing Lacson who claimed there is a conspiracy to frame him for the murder of Dacer and Corbito, forcing him to leave the country.

“Sino sa DoJ ang tinutukoy niya? What happened here was a regular preliminary investigation. He was given an opportunity to be heard. Harapin sana nya yung mga charges. Di ko alam bakit siya umalis. He should explain further,” said Devanadera.

Devanadera urged Lacson to return to the Philippines and face the charges against him in the courts.

“Senator Lacson, you have been elected as a senator. We hope that this matter will not find you somewhere. I hope you face these charges so your defense can be heard. Kailangan pa bang i-implement ang extradition treaty? I believe you are honorable enough to face the charges,” she said.

On November 24, 2000, Dacer and Corbito were kidnapped and killed by men suspected to be members of the now defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), then headed by Lacson, the Philippine National Police chief at that time.

Two former PAOCTF officials, former Senior Supt. Cezar Mancao II and Supt. Glenn Dumlao, have accused Lacson as the mastermind behind the two murders. Lacson has denied involvement in the twin killings.

Last January 8, the DoJ notified the Bureau of Immigration regarding the inclusion of Lacson in the watch list but the senator already left Hong Kong on Jan. 5. He is now believed to be in Australia.

“There are other ways to issue the warrant of arrest. Even if he is out of the country, we can still issue the warrant. We have a mutual assistance treaty with Hong Kong. The Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation will work together on this,” said Devanadera.

In a related development, the NBI said it is ready to bring in Lacson, who has reportedly fled to Australia, should the courts order his arrest in connection with the Dacer-Corbito murder cases.

Lawyer Ricardo Diaz, spokesman of the NBI and head of its Counter-Terrorism Unit, said they are not pushing the panic button just yet in the light of Lacson's reported flight since the Manila Regional Trial Court has yet to decide whether or not to issue an arrest warrant.

"Of course we will act accordingly. Meron tayong extradition treaty with Australia as far as I know and we will ask for the help of the Interpol (International Police Organization) on this matter,” Diaz said.

When asked if the bureau had already informed the Interpol about the matter, Diaz said that "all depends on the judge's decision."

"Wala pa naman siyang decision. Hayaan muna natin yung judge mag-decide. For our part, lagi kaming handa sa kung ano man ang magiging decision ng korte,” he said.

“I don't see any problem if he decides to go somewhere else. Why should we panic if the court has not yet issued a warrant of arrest? I don't think that is a problem," Diaz told the Manila Bulletin. “Lagi tayong susunod sa korte at hintayin natin yung warrant.”

Lacson on Tuesday admitted that he had left the country to escape what he perceived to be harassment from the DoJ amid reports that he would be arrested for the murders.

“As I had correctly suspected, the harassment by the DoJ upon the order of Malacañang will never stop. That’s exactly the reason why I left the country. I am a victim of a conspiracy of whispers between Mrs. Arroyo and her stooge in the Department of Justice,” Lacson said in a one-page statement.

He also appealed to the judge handling the case not to succumb to political pressure and rule on the case on evidence and merit.

“I am hoping – as I was told that the judge handling the case is one who does not easily succumb to pressure and is a stickler for rules – will remain as such and decide the case fairly and based on its merits,” he said.