Murder charges readied vs Archival slay suspects

CEBU, Philippines - The Special Investigation Task Group Archival and the National Bureau  of  Investigation-7 will be filing multiple murder charges against four personnel of the Highway Patrol Group-7 anytime this week.

The personnel, who were respondents of the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Judge Soliver Peras, were HPG-7 Chief  Senior Superintendent Romualdo Iglesia; Special Operations Team Chief  Senior Inspector Joselito Lerion; Deputy Regional Director Chief Inspector Eduardo Mara; and former property custodian SPO4 Edwin Galan.

Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac, task group head, said they are contemplating on adding one HPG personnel on the list of those who reportedly took the vehicle from the impounding area.

“The NBI and the SITG are preparing the complaints against the respondents but we are checking still to add another suspect based on the affidavits we have… posible lang nga dunay madugang,” Gillamac said in a press conference.

The SITG and the NBI are now finalizing the documents which will be signed by NBI Director Max Salvador and Gillamac before they will be filed at the fiscal’s office.

Gillamac further said they could no longer wait for Camp Crame’s response to the letter request for ballistics examination of the firearms issued to the HPG personnel. He said the evidence they have in hand are enough in filing the case.

Recently, gunpowder was extracted from the Toyota Vios (GCS 675) vehicle, that was the subject of the search warrant, and an empty shell of 5.56 rifle was also found inside the car.

The same empty shell was reportedly recovered in the crime scene based on the comparison test conducted by the NBI and the PNP Crime Laboratory-7.

In an interview, Chief Inspector Mara said he is ready to face the multiple murder case against them. He added he will prove in the court that he had nothing to do with the crime and that he is innocent of the charges filed against him.

Mara said the persons who had a hand in the killing will be charged.

“I hope kanang giakusahan tinuod nga naa gyu’y kalambigitan sa kaso,” he said.

Reporters tried to get Iglesia’s reaction but he declined to give his statement.

Mara said that their legal counsel has advised them not to meet with the National Bureau of Investigation despite its summons.

He said that they will give their side and their arguments in the proper courts because they feel that there’s no point answering NBI about the accusations.

Archival and his staff were bound home onboard his SUV from a robbery hearing in Dumaguete City when they were ambushed by men onboard separate vehicles in Barangay Corro, Dalaguete last February 18.

The lawyer and his aide Miñoza died on the spot while his driver Alejandro Jayme died in the hospital and only Cortez survived the incident.  (FREEMAN)