Archivals give HPG ultimatum

CEBU, Philippines - The family of slain lawyer Noel Archival is giving the Highway Patrol Group until next month to turn over three of their policemen suspected in the murder or else they will include Highway Patrol Group Director Chief Superintendent Arrazad Subong in the charges.

Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival, brother of the slain lawyer, said they will press charges against Subong if he fails to turn over Senior Superintendent Romualdo Iglesia, Senior Inspector Joselito Lerion and Police Officer 1 Alex Bacani.

He said HPG officials are protecting their men and causing the delay of the case despite attempts to transfer the hearing of the case from Cebu to Manila.

The Archival family, together with their friends, earlier raised funds for the reward that will be given to whoever can provide information regarding the whereabouts of Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani.

Iglesia and Lerion each have a prize of P200,000 on their heads while P100,000 will be given to the informant who can point to Bacani’s whereabouts.

On Wednesday the Archival family offered mass at the Angelicum Garden of Angels where the slain lawyer was buried.

Another brother of the slain lawyer, Talamban Councilman Nelson Archival, challenged the three suspects to stop being cowards and face the charges against them.

Paolo Cortes, the slain lawyer’s aide and the lone survivor in the ambush that killed the lawyer and two others, said the incident affected his life since he lost his friends and could not work anymore because of the damage to his arm.

Noel Archival was shot and killed along with his driver Alejandro Jaime and bodyguard Candido Miñoza in Barangay Coro, Dalaguete, while travelling to Cebu City from a hearing in Dumaguete City. Several vehicles caught up with the SUV of Archival and the men inside opened fire.

Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani of HPG-7 were earlier tagged responsible for the killings.

When news of the controversial killing broke, the three policemen were temporarily assigned under the custody of Camp Crame’s holding center. But when the warrant of arrest was issued and served, the three HPG personnel were nowhere to be found. — /BRP (FREEMAN)