A former policeman has been arrested in Bulacan over the killing of public relations executive Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000.
According to the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO), law enforcers from different units arrested William Reed III, 57, in an operation in Brgy. Poblacion, Pulilan, Bulacan on Monday.
Reed, a former Senior Police Officer I, was served with a warrant of arrest issued in 2001 by then-presiding judge Rodolfo Ponferrada of Regional Trial Court Branch 41 in Manila.
The ex-cop is charged with double murder without bail.
“Further, above-mentioned accused is included in the list of Most Wanted Persons (National Level) as stated in DILG Memorandum Circular No 2003-106 dated January 10, 2023 with P250,000 reward,” the NCRPO said in a statement.
Reed is temporarily detained at RSOG (Regionl Special Operations Group) facility prior to the return of his Warrant of Arrest to the court of origin, the police statement added.
Eyewitnesses had said Dacer was reportedly abducted and killed on November 24, 2000. They told reporters that policemen strangled the PR man and Corbito using electric cords before their corpses were set on fire.
Both eyewitnesses were then arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation over their alleged involvement. One of them admitted to helping build a pyre of wood and tires to set the victims on fire.
The case has dragged some of the country’s prominent politicians, including former President Joseph Estrada and former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who have yet to react to the report as of press time.