He flew in from Mactan, Cebu aboard a chartered plane with registry number RP-C2711 that landed at the airport at 6:40 p.m. before he was spirited out of there by escorts, denying even a glimpse to reporters who staked out the exit points too late.

The Baron twin engine propeller aircraft touched down at the general aviation area beside the Manila Domestic Airport, where private charter planes on domestic flights could land without going through the terminal.

Unannounced arrival

Lacson arrived at 11:42 a.m. unannounced at the Mactan International Airport in Cebu from Hong Kong aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX-921 shortly before noon, according to Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., spokesman for the Philippine National Police.

Cruz said Lacson was met by immigration officials from Manila.

This was confirmed by Immigration chief for Cebu Elsie Lucero who said that Lacson had travel documents, lined up unassisted like any other passenger and was subsequently cleared by the officer of the day.

Warm welcome

A group of Senate witnesses and whistleblowers welcomed the return to the country of Lacson, who went into hiding shortly before he was ordered arrested for his purported role in the murders of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000.

“We are very happy that Senator Lacson has come out and has been cleared of the criminal case filed against him,” Sandra Cam, president of the Whistle-blowers’ Association, said in a mobile phone interview.

Cam said Lacson may now be on his way to their family’s residence in Manila.

“I’m happy that he’s been given a chance to defend himself. We knew him as a straightforward person who defends the truth and exposes the irregularities in the government,” she said.

“We can now heave a sigh of relief because he’s our primary supporter in the Senate,” she added.

Cam said her group would offer a thanksgiving Mass for Lacson on Sunday.

Dacer-Corbito murders

Lacson reportedly fled the country in January last year after the Manila Regional Trial Court ordered his arrest in connection with the Dacer-Corbito murders.

The senator claimed he was being persecuted for exposing corruption cases against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband.

Red notice list

In February last year, the National Bureau of Investigation asked the Interpol to include Lacson in the Interpol’s red notice list. The request for the senator’s inclusion was based on the arrest warrant issued by Judge Myra Garcia Fernandez of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18 against Lacson.

The red notice list requires 188 Interpol member-countries to immediately notify Interpol Manila once Lacson is spotted or arrested. While on the list, he could be deported, depending on existing treaties, or extradited.

Lacson was removed on March 22 from the Interpol’s “red” notice list on the request of the National Bureau of Investigation following an order from the Court of Appeals nullifying the arrest warrant issued against him.

Home at last?

The Philippine Daily Inquirer went to the family’s residence at the upscale Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City at about 7:30 p.m. and saw four men disembarking from a white van.

A woman and a girl were also seen outside a sports utility vehicle parked in front of the house’s main door.

A source said two of the men were Lacson’s sons while the woman was the senator’s wife Alicia.

The Inquirer tried to talk with Lacson’s family, but they immediately went inside the house.

A driver of the family told the Inquirer that they did not want to talk with the media, saying the senator would hold a press conference on Monday.

Wearing a white shirt printed with the words “We support and believe you, Sen. Ping Lacson,” the man declined to be identified as he was not authorized to give details on Lacson’s whereabouts.

“It would be better if you just wait until Monday because Senator Lacson himself would speak to the media,” he said.

Asked if Lacson was inside the house, the man replied: “I don’t know. All I know is that the family members were inside.”

DJ Yap, Marlon Ramos, Philippine Star