Manhunt is on for 3 HPG cops

CEBU, Philippines - It’s now a manhunt operation.

National Bureau of Investigation-7 Regional Director Max Salvador said that they are now looking for Senior Superintendent Romualdo Iglesia, Senior Inspector Joselito Lerion, and Police Officer 1 Alex Bacani after it was proven they are no longer under the custody of the Personnel Holding Administrative Section of the Highway Patrol Unit in Camp Crame.

“That’s true. Talaga naman ginagawa natin yan pag may warrant of arrest tayo whether or not yung mga tao nandun sa loob ng holding area. Kahit sinabi na nasa custody nila ang mga tao pero nakikita mo sa labas puwede pa ‘ring hulihin yan kasi nandyan ang warrant of arrest,” he said.

Salvador said that he sent a communication to the chief of the PNP HPG holding area last Tuesday asking if the three are still in their custody so he can make proper presentation in court. He said that he has not received any response from them as of press time.

“In case we will arrest them outside of the barracks, that will be another story because how come these guys are out of the camp when they are mandated to be in the holding area,” he said.

Judge Maximo Perez of Regional Trial Court Branch 26 in Argao ordered the arrest of the three former HPG-7 officials last December 11. Salvador said they received a copy of the order Thursday evening and furnished the PNP Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina including the PHAS chief in Camp Crame.

The three are accused of helping each other in the ambush of lawyer Noel Archival, his driver Alejandro Jayme, his bodyguard Candido Miñoza, and his on-call assistant Paolo Cortes on February 18, 2014 around 1 p.m. in Barangay Coro, Dalaguete, Cebu. Only Cortes survived the attacked.

No longer there

The FREEMAN called Camp Crame and it was Superintendent Elizabeth Velasquez, spokeswoman of the PNP HPG, who confirmed the three are no longer there. She said she checked their records and found HPG-7 former chief Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani stopped reporting to the said office since Friday. The three have been in their custody following the relief order from the national HPG headquarters issued April.

She also said they are looking for the three.

“Wala na sila sa amin and hindi pa sila nakikita,” she said.

She, however, could not comment if the arrest warrant was personally served to Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani. She added if the three will not appear, they will be declared absent without official leave after a given time.

Talamban councilman Nelson Archival, brother of the slain lawyer, visited Camp Crame yesterday along with friends of the slain lawyer and members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption led by Dante Jimenez to personally check if the three are still in PHAS.

He said that the personnel of PHAS have been categorical in answering their questions if Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani are there.

“Until now, categorical ra ilang answer. They are very safe,” he said.

It was Nelson who said that they received information from a reliable source in Camp Crame that the three are no longer there.

Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival Sr., another brother of the slain lawyer, urged the three to surrender to the law and reminded them that there are laws that they can use to defend their rights.

“Do not hide behind your uniforms and guns and to the authority that you only borrowed from the State. No one is above the law. So please, surrender yourself and your men,” he said.

Raps eyed

The prosecution lawyers are eyeing to file an administrative case against the officials of the PNP if it is proven they are hiding Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani.

Lawyer Democrito Barcenas said their camp is studying to file obstruction of justice if higher officials refused to submit Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani to the jurisdiction of the court.

Lawyer Gloria-Lastimosa Dalawampu said aside from obstruction of justice, officials proven to be coddling the accused will also be liable for being accessories to the crime.

She said the officials knew for a fact that there was an outstanding warrant of arrest against those accused for multiple murder and frustrated murder.

Lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo, legal counsel of Cortes, said they if the three are no longer at the PHAS they will be moving to declare them absent without official leave.

“If they will be considered AWOL then there is no reason to dismiss them,” Villagonzalo said.

Dalawampu said during the November 27 hearing, Barcenas asked lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna about the whereabouts of his client Lerion and the latter said Lerion and the others are confined to quarters in Camp Crame.

Barcenas, Dalawampu and Villagonzalo called on those accused to surrender. They are planning to file necessary pleadings for the arraignment of the case as soon as possible. —/BRP (FREEMAN)