MANILA (PNA) — Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila De Lima said on Wednesday the supposed closeness of Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson to President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III will not affect the double-murder case filed against Lacson in connection with the killing of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver 10 years ago.

Lacson was tagged as the one who ordered the abduction and subsequent execution of Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in Cavite in November 2000.

Secretary De Lima stressed that justice is fair in the country.

She added that Lacson should face the charges filed against him and prove that he really had nothing to do with the Dacer-Corbito double murder charges.

Lacson flew out of the country on January 5, 2010, a month before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) could have issued an arrest warrant against him and the resolution of the motion for judicial determination of probable cause filed by the senator. (PNA)