NBI-7 conducts parallel probe on Archival slay

CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 will do a parallel investigation into the murder of lawyer Noel Archival and two of his staff after the family of the slain-lawyer requested for it.

NBI-7 director Antonio Pagatpat said that Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival requested his office to help identify the assailants who ambushed his brother in Barangay Coro, Dalaguete last week.

Pagatpat immediately created an 8-man team led by lawyers Rennan Oliva and Jose Ermie Monsanto. He, however, said that the team will be closely coordinating with the PNP task force investigating the case.

“Yes, it will be in close coordination with the PNP,” Pagatpat told The FREEMAN.

As of yesterday, the Special Investigation Task Group Archival has yet to identify the perpetrators. Task force spokesperson, Supt. Renato Malazarte, said they are already ‘about’ to identify the culprits.

Malazarte said the task force is now investigating the owners of the three vehicles, two pick-up trucks and a sedan, used by the attackers. The vehicles were seen on video footage taken from the CCTV camera in Dalaguete tailing Archival’s Ford Escape.

According to Malazarte, the lone survivor, Paulo Cortez, only saw a vehicle on their left side before they were fired upon. Cortez said he could not remember the faces of their attackers because he hid and play dead.

“Paglingi niya diha na ang sakyanan gitaparan sila, iya na lang nakit-an ang sumbohan sa armas unya pagkaigo niya mitago siya, dali ra kaayo ang ambush,” Malazarte said.

Malazarte added that the cellular phones of Archival and his two staff, Candido Miñoza and Alejandro Jayme, are now in the possession of the task group.

He said these are vital evidence in the investigation because there might be data in the phones that could lead to the identity of the culprits.

Malazarte said they are now slowly eliminating the cases previously handled by Archival to establish motive.

“We are eliminating other cases handled by attorney Archival,” Malazarte said.— (FREEMAN)