Archivals to spread cops’ photos

CEBU, Philippines - With the suspects in hiding, the family of slain lawyer Noel Archival will be posting online photos of Senior Superintendent Romualdo Iglesia, Senior Inspector Joselito Lerion, and Police Officer 1 Alex Bacani via social media to help hasten their arrest.

Talamban, Cebu City Councilman Nelson Archival said they will also print the photos on tarpaulins and other materials to be posted in police stations, barangay halls and in other public areas.

Nelson said there are also concerned groups that have requested for copies of the photos of the three policemen, who were ordered arrested by the court for Noel’s death.

Superintendent Elizabeth Velasquez, Camp Crame spokespersons, confirmed to The FREEMAN that the three are no longer with the unit, to where the suspects were transferred from HPG-7 following the filing of criminal complaints against them.

Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani were relieved from their assignments and ordered to report to Camp Crame as part of the ongoing investigation into Noel’s death.

Velasquez said that based on their records, the three policemen were unaccounted for since Friday, December 12, after being stationed at the HPG national headquarters since April.

It was on the same day that the National Bureau of Investigation-7, through Special investigator III Eric Bringas of the Anti-Organized and Transnational Criminal Division-Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit (AOTCD-AIDU), served a copy of the order of arrest against the three accused before Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Nelson challenged the chief of the Philippine National Police HPG holding area and its personnel to face the family and confirm the truth to them through an official written communication.

“If they have told the media, then they have to produce the black and white to us,” he said.

Last Thursday, Nelson visited Camp Crame along with friends of Noel and members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption but they have not received any response yet confirming that the suspects are no longer there.

Nelson said that if they will not get any confirmation until Monday on his brother’s killers, the family would file an administrative case against the officials of the PNP if it is known that they are hiding the three policemen.

“Klaro kaayo ilang gi-cover up. Gipasibat na to sila. Wa sila’y lusot ani. Di man gyud ta moundang. Kun di ta mosukol sa ila, mag-anad na sila,” he said.

Nelson said that he has yet to discuss their next actions with his brother, Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival Sr., and the prosecution lawyers.

Nelson said they will also come up with a decision next week if they would give a cash reward for those who could provide information that would lead to the arrest of the three former HPG-7 officials.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office-7 Director Prudencio Tom Bañas yesterday expressed willingness to cooperate in the manhunt operations against Iglesia, Lerion, and Bacani.

He assured that the Central Visayas police force will support the order of the court.

“If ang mga tauhan namin dito ay nakakaalam kung nasaan sila or kung nandito sila, we will apprehend them,” Bañas said.

He, however, said that they have no information yet as to the three policemen’s whereabouts.

He encouraged that as law enforcers, Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani should submit themselves to the authority of the court.

“They will be given due process anyway. Hahabulin nang hahabulin sila. Sooner or later makukuha rin sila,” Bañas said.

NBI-7 Director Max Salvador, on the other hand, said he has not yet received any confirmation from PNP HPG holding area chief after he sent a communication last Tuesday asking if the three policemen are still in their custody.

Last December 11, Regional Trial Court Argao Branch 26 Judge Maximo Perez ordered the arrest of Iglesia, Lerion, and Bacani for the murder of Noel and the death of two others.

Noel and his companions were ambushed last February 18 in Barangay Coro, Dalaguete, Cebu while they were on their way to Cebu City. Noel, his driver Alejandro Jayme, and bodyguard Candido Miñoza were killed during the attack.

Lawyer Democrito Barcenas, one of the prosecution’s legal counsel, said yesterday that the three suspects’ flight was an indication of their guilt.

Barcenas likewise said that lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna, Lerion’s legal counsel, was not telling the truth when dela Cerna was in constant communication with his client. Barcenas said that dela Cerna, in a recent interview, claimed that he has not communicated with Lerion for two months already.

Though the three policemen were no longer at Camp Crame, Barcenas said he has high hopes that they would be arrested or that they would surrender.

He urged the three to surrender if indeed they are innocent and prove it in court instead of becoming fugitives of the law.

“The innocent will fight as bold as the lion but the guilty flees,” Barcenas said. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento, Mylen P. Manto/RHM (FREEMAN)