EDITORIAL - Archival ambush: A year after

It's been a year since the ambush of prominent lawyer Noel Archival and his staff in a town in the south but the case has yet to gather strength and push forward for a full blown court trial.

As of this moment, the suspects - all members of the police Highway Patrol Group-7 - tagged in the killing of Archival and two members of his staff and the wounding of another aide have yet to be found. 

They reportedly escaped from the holding area of police headquarters in Camp Crame where they were transferred from Cebu following their relief after the filing of the complaint against them.

How the suspect managed to escape despite the order confining them to their national headquarters is something that HPG officials should explain to the court and to the families of the victims.

Of course, authorities should investigate whether the HPG officials are involved in the escape of the accused. It's undeniable that the escape only added to the delay of the trial of the case.  

As we have said before, those accused are still innocent unless proven otherwise by the court. They still have all the chances to display the evidence that should support their innocence to the crime.

But the fact that they have escaped and chose to remain on the run is something that only creates public perception that they all are indeed responsible for the ambush of Archival and his companions in Dalaguete town last year.

If they wanted to avoid such perception, the only logical move for those accused is for them to surrender and face all the allegations in court. Opting to remain at large will only weaken their defense.  

It has been a year since that fateful day and yet the case has yet to be arranged for a proper date in court. Cebuanos are really hoping for its immediate resolution so justice will be finally given to the families of the victims.