MANILA (PNA) — The Department of Justice (DoJ) is set to conduct an investigation into allegations of bribery attempt on former police Sr. Supt. Cesar Mancao II to clear Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson of any involvement in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

The alleged bribery attempt that reportedly runs to millions of pesos came from the camp of Lacson in consideration of Mancao's retraction of his testimony pointing to Lacson as the alleged "mastermind" in the abduction and subsequent execution of noted publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

DoJ Secretary Leila De Lima on Wednesday said that she will immediately order National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Magtanggol Gatdula to determine who were the persons being referred to by Mancao as "common friends" with Lacson who now serve as "emissaries" of the senator in convincing Mancao to retract his testimony against Lacson.

It can be recalled that Mancao, accompanied by his legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio, had a meeting with De Lima at the DoJ on Tuesday.

After the one-hour meeting, Topacio told reporters that the "kinks" regarding the custody of his client have been ironed out.

Mancao also told reporters that there are people who are convincing him to retract his testimony, implicating Lacson to the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.