More time for RHPU men to refute raps

CEBU, Philippines - Acting Provincial Prosecutor Jesus Rodrigo Taga-an has given officials of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-7 15 days within which to file supplemental affidavits in the case they are facing as suspects in the killing of lawyer Noel Archival.

“This office finds that, in the interest of justice and fair play, it is imperative to grant respondents an extended period of 15 days,” Taga-an’s order reads.

Earlier, RHPU-7 chief Sr. Supt. Romualdo Iglesia, Sr. Insp. Joselito Lerion, Chief Insp. Eduardo Mara, SPO4 Edwin Galan and PO1 Alex Bacani filed a motion seeking for more time to file supplemental affidavits to the evidence filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7.  They asked for 20 days but the prosecutor’s office granted only 15 days.

Pursuant to office order No. 14-27 issued by Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalani, Taga-an was designated acting provincial prosecutor to resolve the complaint for multiple murder and frustrated murder filed against RHPU officials.

Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba said the five-man panel inhibited from handling the case due to reason of mistrust.

“Verily, the respondents’ persistent imputation of bias and partiality on the part of the panel, in particular and this office, in general, has indubitably become an affront to this office integrity and credibility as they are now taking this office to task and seriously accusing it no end of bias and want of cold neutrality of an impartial arbiter,” the order reads.

On June 23, 2014, Taga-an denied a motion filed by the respondents to defer and hold in abeyance the preliminary investigation in the multiple murder and frustrated murder case.

Taga-an said “a delay in the dispensation of justice is a denial thereof.”  In their motion, the RHPU officials said the preliminary investigation must be put on hold while the Department of Justice   decides on their motion for the department to reconsider its order denying their request to chance the venue of the investigation.

Archival and his companions were ambushed on February 18, 2014 in Barangay Corro, Dalaguete while on their way to Cebu City. Archival, his driver Alejandro Jayme, bodyguard Candido Miñoza were killed during the attacked, while Paolo Cortes, on-call assistant of Archival, survived. (FREEMAN)