CCTV may be key to mystery killing of criminal lawyer

Police yesterday said they have an idea on how to identify the perpetrators of Tuesday afternoon’s brazen attack on noted criminal lawyer Noel Archival.

Supt. Renato Malazarte, deputy provincial director for operations of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) and the designated spokesperson of the task force created to investigate the killing, refused to provide details, but admitted that they have secured video footages from several closed-circuit television cameras in establishments where the assailants could have passed by the day Archival and his aides were ambushed.

“By now, we already have an idea about what happened. We have the possible lead but we could not divulge it yet. I’m sorry, this is a high profile case. All intelligence committees are working together to solve this case,” he told reporters after a closed-door case conference yesterday afternoon.

“We’re backtracking the video footages in Dalaguete, Alcoy, and Carcar City. I could not tell you, however, about the developments. As of now, we are gathering evidence and witnesses that could shed light on the incident,” he said.

When asked how many possible individuals took part in killing Archival and the other victims, Malazarte said “many.”

“With the way the ambush was done, we can say that the suspects are professionals. The ambush plot was carried out quite well,” he said.

Archival, along with three of his aides, were killed in an ambush at past 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Archival is the sixth Cebu lawyer who got shot in the past 10 years. Of the six, only Assistant City Prosecutor Ma. Theresa Casiño survived. Casiño was shot in a head by a Canadian litigant who went berserk in the Cebu City courthouse last year.

Archival just came from a court hearing in Dumaguete City and was on his way home to Cebu City when the assailants on board two Toyota Hi-lux pick-up trucks intercepted them.

Archival, 52, and his aide Candido Miñoza died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds on the head and body. Alejandro Jayme, the driver of Archival’s vehicle, was taken to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival past 4 p.m.

 

CRUCIAL STATEMENT

Archival’s other aide, Paulo Cortes, survived the attack.

Cortes, who was wounded in the left arm, is reportedly in stable condition. He was transferred to another hospital for security reasons, sources said.

Supt. Malazarte said an investigator has already spoken with Cortes.

“Cortes’ statement is very important. There’s a possibility that he saw the faces of the perpetrators. Also, he may have an idea on whether or not Atty. Archival received threats before the ambush,” he said.

Malazarte said they are also coordinating with the shipping company which transported Archival and his companions as well as their vehicle from Dumaguete City to Cebu.

“We’re gathering all possible details so we can solve this crime. The standing order of our provincial director says ‘No one should sleep unless we solve this one. We’re doing our best to address this case as soon as possible,” he said.

Atilano Fabilla, the team leader of the PNP Scene of the Crime Operatives who processed the crime scene last Tuesday, said the autopsy reports on the bodies of Archival, Miñoza, and Jayme as well as the bullet trajectory results will be released within three days.

Fabilla, who was present when the bodies were autopsied Tuesday evening, said Archival sustained a gunshot wound in the head and three gunshot wounds in the body. He confirmed a CDN report that a 9mm pistol with 11 rounds of ammunition was recovered from the lawyer’s car together with three cellular phones, cash amounting to P48,590, and assorted documents.

 

WAKE

Archival’s remains were taken to St. John chapel at St. Peter’s Funeral Homes along Imus Road in Cebu City past noon yesterday.

His wife Ellen as well as their children broke in tears as the coffin of the slain lawyer was whelled inside the chapel.

Archival’s younger brother Nelson urged authorities to help them in arresting the perpetrators so justice can be served.

“I hope there will be a solution to this crime. Otherwise, I’m afraid this might become a precedent, as if sending a message that it’s easy to kill lawyers. Our authorities have to solve this one,” he told CDN.

“It’s so sad to think that my brother is supposed to bond with his kids. What makes it more painful is that he didn’t die because of an illness but due to a brutal crime,” he added.

Nelson said Archival was just doing his work as a lawyer and that the latter didn’t have anything personal against anyone.

 

WELL-PLANNED

“The ambush was well-planned, well-executed, and very well-funded. It was carried out perfectly. To the perpetrators: you may be able to escape laws of this world. But you’ll certainly answer for what you have done before God. Yes, there is a God and He saw what you did to my brother. I’m not sure about your motives but I’ll let God take care of you,” Nelson said.

Amid the trials their family are currently facing, he believes they can surpass everything. “We trust in God. We will be able to overcome this crisis in our life,” said Nelson who is a councilman of barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

He said Archival’s remains will be taken to their residence in Talamban next week. The funeral is set on Feb. 28.

“Atty. Noel was very accommodating. So we would want people to be able to pay their last respects in whatever way they want,” Nelson said.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale was among those who visited the wake of Archival at St. Peter’s Funeral Homes yesterday.

Magpale sent security personnel to watch over Archival’s family.

The remains of Archival’s driver Alejandro was taken to St. Peter’s Funeral Homes located across the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Alejandro’s wife Erlinda was emotional thinking that they have lost their head of the family.

“Ambot lang. Na-problema ko kon unsaon na lang among inadlaw-adlaw nga gasto. Wala ko kahibaw unsaon pagsugod og balik. (I don’t know what to do. My problem is where to get money for our family’s daily needs. I don’t know how to start all over again),” said Erlinda who has two children with Alejandro aged 12 and 9.

“Those who killed my husband should have thought that he has a family and it’s not easy to lose someone. What will happen to our children’s schooling now that my husband is dead?” she added in Cebuano.

Emily Miñoza, the wife of one of Archival’s slain aides, burst in tears when she went to the funeral parlor to claim her husband’s remains.

“Nawagtangan mi og haligi sa among pamilya. Maayo unta kon ang mga naghimo niini walay pamilya. (We lost an important part of our family. I hope the perpetrators thought of their respective families when they killed my husband),” she said.

Her husband’s body was brought to a chapel built by the victim in Talamban, Cebu City.

 

JUSTICE FOR SLAIN LAWYERS

Lawyer Elaine Bathan, president of the Intergated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City chapter, urged law enforcers to expedite their investigation to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

“Atty. Archival’s death came as a shock to me and to everyone else. It’s painful to think that he would be killed in a brutal way. We are saddened by the loss,” she said. Bathan said the IBP national office will send P50,000 in financial assistance to Archival’s family. / with Correspondent Decemay Padilla

 

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