Another judge inhibits from Archival case

CEBU, Philippines - Regional Trial Court Judge Maximo Perez of Branch 26 has inhibited from the multiple murder and frustrated murder case against former officials of the Highway Patrol Group-7 accused of killing lawyer Noel Archival.

In his one-page order, Perez said he has forwarded his decision to the Supreme Court through Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and Deputy Court Administrator Jenny Lind Aldecoa-Delorino, as well as to Wilhelmina Geronga, chief of office of the Office of the Court Administrator.

"A perusal of the record shows that the presiding judge of RTC Branch 26 Argao, Cebu, has inhibited from presiding over the above-entitled case, to preclude claim of bias or prejudice, and the said inhibition has been forwarded to the Supreme Court," Perez' ruling dated January 12 reads.

Perez said that because of his inhibition, the motion to arraign the HPG officials filed by private prosecutors on January 7, as well as the other motions will be put on hold until the Supreme Court appoints a new judge.

Senior Superintendent Romualdo Iglesia, Senior Inspector Joselito Lerion, and PO1 Alex Bacani were tagged in the killing of Archival, his driver Alejandro Jayme, and his bodyguard Candido Miñoza on February 18, 2014.

The victims were traversing Barangay Corro in Dalaguete town heading to Cebu City when waylaid. Only Paolo Cortes, Archival's assistant, survived the attack.

Archival's brother, Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival, said he did not expect Perez's inhibition but respects the judge's decision. He said they will not oppose if the case will be heard by courts in Cebu City, Mandaue City, or Lapu-Lapu City.

The HPG officials want the case to be heard in Manila but Villagonzalo said doing so would be risky. Aside from this, all the evidence in the case, as well as the complainants themselves and the witnesses, are in Cebu.

Inocencio dela Cerna, legal counsel of Bacani, refused to comment on the inhibition.

Iglesia, Lerion, and Bacani are being hunted after a warrant of arrest was issued against them.— (FREEMAN)