Archival ambush-slay: Suspects to face raps next week

CEBU, Philippines - Criminal complaints will be filed next week against four officials of the Highway Patrol Group- 7 because of their alleged involvement in the murder of lawyer Noel Archival and two members of his staff in Dalaguete town last month.

National Bureau of Investigation-7 director Max Salvador said the investigators are just working on the needed documentation. He also hinted that a possible state witness might come out.

“Malay mo may state witness. Sure na next week i-file, kinokompleto na ang documentation,” Salvador said.

Those who are expected to face the criminal complaints for multiple murder and frustrated murder are HPG-7 chief Senior Supt. Romualdo Iglesia, deputy chief Sr. Inspector Eduardo Mara, operations officer Sr. Insp. Joselito Lerion, and SPO4 Edwin Galan.

The decision to file the complaints came following a raid Thursday morning on HPG-7’s vehicle impounding area where one of the vehicles allegedly used in the ambush of Archival and his staff was found.

The HPG-7’s vehicle impounding area is located inside the police headquarters in Sudlon, Lahug.

The NBI operatives, together with the members of the Special Investigation Task Group of the Philippine National Police, served the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Soliver Peras.

During the raid, a red Toyota Vios sedan with plate numbers GSC 675 was seized by the NBI and SITG operatives. The vehicle was one of the three vehicles specified in the search warrant. The other vehicles are two Mitsubishi Strada pick-ups with plate numbers ZEZ 932 and NVD 549.

Salvador said they already knew the whereabouts of the two other vehicles but refused to give further details. He said the four policemen will also be issued subpoena to appear before the NBI-7 headquarters for investigation before filing the case at the prosecutors’ office.

Mara denied his involvement in the murder of Archival and two of his aides. He said he is willing to cooperate in the investigation.

“Bisan ika-one thousand (1000) pa ko ipa-lie detector ug ika-one thousand (1000) pa nako ipa-ballistics examination akong armas okay ra nako,” Mara said.

He could not, however, explain why the Toyota Vios seized in their impounding area was seen at the crime scene on the day Archival, Candido Miñoza, and Alejandro Jaime were killed in an ambush.

Another member of Archival’s staff, Paulo Cortez, was injured during the incident.

“Di ko katubag nganong makaabot sa gawas ang mga sakyanan nga impounded sa sulod if it is personal use,” Mara told reporters.

HPG-7 spokesperson Sr. Insp. Oliver Plania said the officials involved are willing to appear in court.

“HPG will answer their allegations in due time and with regards to the ‘impounded’ vehicle, we are to check it first at the impounding area with Capt. Lerion,” he said.

Plania admitted that Archival was the legal counsel of some of the people the HPG-7 has charged in court. There was also counter-suit filed by Archival, on behalf of his client, against the HPG-7 personnel.

“Trabaho lang ni amo and susceptible ang HPG sa mga kaso ilabi na kung involve ang mga high-end vehicles sa mga dunay kwarta,” Plania explained.

Archival was ambushed on February 18 in Barangay Coro, Dalaguete town while he was on his way back to Cebu City from Dumaguete City where he attended a court hearing. —/FPL (FREEMAN)