Archival slay suspects told: Answer P2M damage suit

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Trial Court has directed seven policemen, including the director of the Highway Patrol Group, Police Chief Superintendent Arrazad Subong, to file their answer to the civil case filed by one Emily Declaro-Miñoza.

Emily, the widow of Candido Miñoza who was killed along with lawyer Noel Archival and driver Alejandro Jayme on February 18, 2014 in an ambush in barangay Coro, Dalaguete, Cebu, filed a P2-million damage suit against the defendants.

Named defendants were Subong; Chief Superintendent Jaime Morente, chief of the Personnel Holding and Accounting Section (PHAS); Senior Superintendent Romualdo Iglesia, former Highway Patrol Group-7 director; Police Chief Inspector Eduardo Mara; Police Senior Inspector Joselito Lerion; Senior Police Officer 4  Edwin Galan; and Police Officer 1 Alex Bacani.

Clerk of Court Manuel Nollora of RTC Branch 5 gave the defendants 15 days to file their answer to the civil case Emily filed.

He reminded them refrain from filing a motion to dismiss case. He, however, said that the defendants can state their grounds of dismissal in their answer.

Candido was a bodyguard of Archival. Only Paolo Cortes, the lawyer’s on-call assistant, survived the attacked.

Emily said because her husband was killed, the education and needs of their six children (ages 14 to 22), were at stake, as they solely rely on Candido.

“Plaintiff’s husband Candido was still a man at his prime at the time of his death, and according to the table of mortality or life expectancy, he has no less than 20 years of life remaining in which to love, work, support and care for plaintiff Emily and their children,” read the complaint filed by lawyer Gloria Dalawampu.

Emily said the defendants must pay P1.5 million in moral damages; P200,000 in actual damages; P300,000 in attorney’s fees; and another amount as determined by the court for exemplary damages.

Iglesia, Lerion, and Bacani were tagged in the killing of Archival, driver Alejandro Jayme, and Miñoza on February 18, 2014 while they were traveling to Cebu City in Barangay Coro, Dalaguete, Cebu.

Their involvement in the crime prompted the PNP to drop Iglesia, Lerion and Bacani from the rolls. —  Mylen P. Manto/RHM (FREEMAN)