Court asked for another warrant vs HPG men

CEBU, Philippines - Seeking continuous efforts to find the suspects in the death of Atty. Noel Archival, the slain lawyer’s camp asked the court to issue another warrant for former officials of the Highway Patrol Group who have gone missing after they were tagged in the killing.

Prosecution lawyer Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu asked the court to issue an alias warrant against Chief Superintendent Romualdo Iglesia, Senior Inspector Joselito Lerion and Police Officer 1 Alex Bacani.

This after the National Bureau of Investigation failed to arrest the three last December with the original warrant the court issued.

“Na-return na man ang warrant unya kung makit-an sila (suspects) and there is no warrant? Hinuon puede man ang citizens arrest but it would be better if naay alias warrant,” Dalawampu told reporters yesterday.

Under the rules of court, an arrest warrant should be executed within 10 days from its receipt of the officer executing it. After this period expires, the officer to whom it was assigned for execution is directed to make a report to the judge who issued the warrant.

An alias warrant, meanwhile, may be issued by the court when the original warrant of arrest is returned and its purpose has not been achieved. It has no expiration.

Dalawampu said the HPG should be held responsible for the suspects’ disappearance because it allowed them to leave the camp.

The three policemen were assigned at the HPG’s Personnel Holding and Accounting Section (PHAS) in Camp Crame in Quezon City after they were pulled out of their post at HPG-7 at the height of the investigation into the multiple murder and frustrated murder charges against them.

Another prosecution lawyer, Rameses Villagonzalo, also asked the court to form a composite unit from the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to find the suspects.

Leo Cajulao, chief of HPG’s PHAS, told Judge Soliver Peras that the three suspects were placed under restriction in June 17 last year.

“This means that they are required to report everyday and their movement within the camp was restricted,” he explained.

However, the restrictive custody order against the three suspects was lifted by the HPG director before the warrant of arrest came out, Cajulao said.

He said lifting a restriction is allowed under HPG rules since there “are only number of days allowed” for the restriction.

Peras wanted to see a copy of the restriction order but Cajulao did not bring the same to the hearing yesterday.

“Why did you not bring it? What’s your basis that what you are saying before this court is true?What do you think of the court in Cebu City? We will only rely on what you say?” Peras told Cajulao.

“The purpose of this court to direct the HPG to appear is for them to explain. When they (suspects) were pulled out of region-7, they are supposed to be under the custody of the HPG,” he added.

He directed the HPG to submit a copy of the order to the court within five days.

Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani were dropped from the HPG rolls effective January 26, 2015 for being absent without official leave (AWOL).

Archival, Candido Miñoza, and driver Alejandro Jayme died after the vehicle they were riding were peppered with bullets while traversing the highway in Barangay Coro, Dalaguete, Cebu on February 18, 2014. — /JMO (FREEMAN)