The expected face to face meeting between Senator Panfilo Lacson and Dacer-Corbito case state witness Cesar Mancao didn’t materialize as the senator was a no-show during their preliminary hearing Thursday at the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Instead, Lacson was represented by his lawyer, Atty. Alex Avisado, who surprisingly manifested in court that there is a “great possibility” that the P5 million damage suit filed by his client against former Police Senior Superintendent Cezar Mancao II may be withdrawn “within the month, or even before Christmas.”

“My approach to this case is radical as I will convince my client to withdraw this case in the spirit of the season,” Avisado said.

On the part of Mancao, he said he was happy with Avisado’s statements and expressed optimism that Lacson, who was his former superior at the defunct PAOCTF during the time of President Estrada, will finally drop the case filed against him.

“I will be happy enough if the case filed against me will be dismissed as I can already concentrate on my campaign as Congressman of the First District of Compostela Province, where I can continue to help my fellowmen,” Mancao said.

Mancao was accompanied by a phalanx of heavily armed NBI operatives who arrived at the Parañaque City hall premises shortly before the scheduled preliminary hearing which started at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Meanwhile, Mancao’s counsel Atty. Ferdinand Topacio said he was elated by the development adding that he hopes Sen. Lacson will continue to realize that there is nothing personal with respect to the testimony of his client in the Dacer-Corbito Case.

“We are not out to malign or besmirch the good name of anyone,” Topacio said.

Both Topacio and Avisado later made a joint statement before media saying “we shall rise above personalities and will confine our legal battles to the cases already existing, and after our clients have testified, we shall then allow the courts of justice to decide regarding the guilt or innocence of those involved in the double murder investigation.”