Archival case hurts HPG men, families

CEBU, Philippines - Highway Patrol Group-7 personnel are reportedly demoralized after their officials were tagged in the killing of lawyer Noel Archival and two members of his staff.

The report also saddened the families of the officials, said their lawyer  Inocencio dela Cerna.

HPG-7 spokesperson, Senior Insp. Oliver Plania, said they have been demoralized after the recovery of the red Toyota Corolla Vios (GSC 675) from their impounding area in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.

Even though no criminal charges have been filed yet, Plania said some of the HPG personnel are now hesitant to report for work.

Plania said the incident was very unfortunate for HPG-7 since they are just doing their job against carnapping which is their main role in the Philippine National Police.

“Very unfortunate sa HPG, nganong  na implicate man mi, sa past years nangusog ta sa anti-carnapping,” Plania said.

He denied rumors that HPG-7 chief, Supt. Romualdo Iglesia, is in hiding.

He Iglesia was in the office yesterday, a claim that was supported by Dela Cerna, who said that his clients are not suspects but are respondents.

Other personnel involved are Chief Insp. Eduardo Mara, HPG-7 operations officer Sr. Insp. Joselito Lerion and SPO4 Edwin Galan.

Police Regional Office-7 director, Chief  Supt. Danilo Constantino, said that the HPG-7 personnel should not feel demoralized because it is not yet proven that they have done anything regarding the death of Archival.

He said the Special investigation Task Group and the National Bureau of Investigation have yet to link the car to the possible perpetrators.

“Wala pa namang linaw kung may kinalaman ang personnel ng HPG, kasi subject for investigation pa ang car,” Constantino said.

The use of impounded cars is strictly prohibited under the HPG’s internal memorandum.

Plania said that any person found using an impounded car should be administratively sanctioned.

Meanwhile, Dela Cerna yesterday said that his clients will not appear before the NBI-7 despite being subpoenaed.

The NBI subpoenaed the four for questioning over the recovered vehicle under their custody.

Dela Cerna, however, said that they will answer the allegations once they will have the supporting documents in the application of the search warrant.

Apart from that, he said the legal team saw that there was a sort of flaw in the issuance of the search warrant.

“The search warrant is against them personally. Kung ang sakyanan nakit-an sud sa usa ka agency, ang head of office ba diay ang automatic nga himuon dayun nga respondnet,” he said adding that what NBI did is a fishing expedition.

Dela Cerna said there was no assurance yet that the vehicle recovered from the impounding area was the same vehicle used in the incident because they haven’t seen the close-circuit television  camera.

NBI-7 Regional Director Max Salvador told the media that there is no problem if the subjects of the subpoena will not personally appear before their office for questioning.

The recovered vehicle is now under the custody of the NBI.

Archival and his companions were ambushed in Barangay Coro, Dalaguete while they were on their way to Cebu City on Feb. 18 from a hearing in Dumaguete City. —(FREEMAN)