PNP sacks HPG cops in Archival ambush

CEBU, Philippines - The suspects in the killing of lawyer Noel Archival and his two aides last year has been dismissed from police service.

Lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo said they received a communication that the Philippine National Police has already fired Senior Superintendent Romualdo Iglesia, Senior Inspector Joselito Lerion and PO1 Alex Bacani after going Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) last year.

The three policemen were relieved of their posts with the Highway Patrol Group-7 after they were tagged as suspects in the death of Noel, his driver Alejandro Jayme, and his bodyguard Candido Miñoza, they were placed under the custody of the Personnel Holding and Accounting Section (PHAS), Highway Patrol Group in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Archival and his companions were ambushed on February 18, 2014 in Barangay Corro, Dalaguete, Cebu while on their way to Cebu City from Dumaguete City.

When the National Bureau of Investigation-7 served the warrant of arrest against them last December 12, however, they could no longer be found.

Superintendent Elizabeth Velasquez, spokeswoman of the Philippine National Police HPG in Camp Crame told the NBI the three suspects were no longer at the PHAS.

Villagonzalo, legal counsel of lone survivor Paolo Cortes, said the PNP dropping Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani from the rolls makes their case “much stronger.”

“Yes much stronger ang amoang case kay proven namo ilahang flight through AWOL. They are showing the whole world their guilt,” Villagonzalo said, adding Cortes’ family was elated of the development.

The March 10 Special Orders No. 1796 signed by Police Director Jaime Hermo Morente, Philippine National Police Personnel and Records Management director, stated that Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani were effectively dropped from the rolls effective January 26, 2015.

Villagonzalo has earlier sent Camp Crame a letter-complaint requesting that the PNP hasten the proceedings against the three policemen and charge them AWOL. — (FREEMAN)