Dela Cerna withdraws as counsel of police tagged in Archival slay

CEBU, Philippines - Lawyer Inocencio de la Cerna has filed a motion to withdraw as lawyer representing Police Senior Superintendent Romualdo Iglesia, one of the respondents identified as among the suspects in the killing of lawyer Noel Archival, before the Office of the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor, yesterday.

De la Cerna said he explained his intent to Iglesia right after they received the resolution of Acting Provincial Prosecutor Jesus Rodrigo Tagaan indicting the police official for the complex crime of multiple murder and frustrated murder.

Dela Cerna said he also informed Iglesia that he was free to get another legal counsel if he was dissatisfied with the lawyer’s service.

De la Cerna revealed Iglesia was disappointed with the fiscal’s resolution and informed that the policeman was consenting to the termination of his legal services effective immediately.

“With this situation at hand and with the consent of our aforementioned client, we are hereby withdrawing as counsel for P/SSupt Romualdo Iglesia,” read de la Cerna’s motion with an attached manifestation of consent of Iglesia stating that his new lawyer would be Atty. Joselito Frial.

As of press time yesterday, Provincial Prosecutor Jane Pepita Petralba said their office has not yet received any entry of appearance by Frial regarding the said.

Iglesia, along with Chief Inspector Eduardo Mara, Senior Inspector Joselito Lerion, SPO4 Edwin Galan, and PO1 Alex Bacani, all former officials of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-7, were sued by the National Bureau of Investigation-7 over the ambush-slay of Archival, his driver Alejandro Jayme, bodyguard Candido Miñoza, and wounding of Paolo Cortes, the on-call assistant.

In his resolution, however, Tagaan dropped Mara and Galan for insufficiency of evidence that they had conspired with the others in the commission of the crime.

The NBI-7 have alleged that an impounded vehicle was used in the crime, and included the two policemen in the charge sheet because Mara was the impounding area chief while Galan was the one responsible for the impounded vehicle .

Mara and Galan were included in the complaints because the two allegedly failed to stop their colleagues from using the vehicle.

Bacani was represented by Atty. Reynaldo Lugtu in the case.

De la Cerna has likewise asked Tagaan that Iglesia and Bacani be given sufficient time to get new counsels and to file their respective motions for reconsideration.

De la Cerna said he has yet to talk to Lerion if the latter wants to continue to hire his services or if he would look for another legal counsel.

Petralba said dela Cerna’s motion to withdraw as counsel would not delay the case.

Lawyer Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu of the prosecution said she respects dela Cerna’s decision.

“Atty. De la Cerna is a very worthy opponent; his skill in law and court practice is at par or even better than any other lawyer; despite some heated episodes expected in a clash of positions which raised our respective tempers. Atty. De la Cerna has remained a gentleman and a friend. As he leaves, I wish to let him know that he has my high regard and esteem as a brother lawyer. The defense has lost an able and indefatigable defender,” read Dalawampu’s text message to The FREEMAN.

Archival and his companions were ambushed last February 18 in Barangay Corro, Dalaguete, Cebu while on their way to Cebu City after attending a hearing in Dumaguete City.—(FREEMAN)