By Rey E. Requejo

A KEY suspect in the murder of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito did not fly home to face trial as scheduled yesterday after his lawyer challenged his extradition before a US court.

‘‘There’s somebody behind this who’s working to prevent his extradition,’’ Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said, referring to former police officer Glenn Dumlao, who has been tagged as a suspect in the 2000 double- murder case.

Dumlao was a key officer in the now-defunct Anti-Organized Crime Task Force, then headed by police chief and now Senator Panfilo Lacson. Dumlao fled to the United States in 2001 after the ouster of then President Joseph Estrada.

Gonzalez told reporters that the National Bureau of Investigation official who was sent to fetch Dumlao had reported that the flight had been canceled, and that a US district court in New York would hear Dumlao’s petition today.

Without naming names, Gonzalez said someone had filed the petition for habeas corpus and injunction on behalf of Dumlao, a former associate of Lacson.

“Who would be paying for the expenses he incurred in court when he’s jobless?” Gonzalez said.

“I think someone could be a friend... I don’t know if they still contact each other, but I’m sure there must be some dialog or communication moving around... That’s just my conjecture.”

Gonzalez said he didn’t know how the US court would rule on Dumlao’s petition, but added he had asked the Philippine Consulate in the US to send a lawyer to the hearing to oppose the petition.

“I think they’re trying to delay the reopening of the preliminary investigation,” he said.

“Dumlao is not a witness; he will arrive here as an accused. Maybe he will say to the court he will be persecuted here in a political case.”

Gonzalez said he was considering releasing the sworn statement of Cesar Mancao, another former police task force officer who has allegedly implicated Lacson in the Dacer-Corbito murders.

Lacson has denied any role in the killings.