Malou Apalisok
Shocking and brazen describe the cold-blooded killing of lawyer Noel Archival and his two aides in barangay Coro, Dalaguete town yesterday afternoon.
The lawyer is famous not only in Cebu City but also in neighboring provinces where he handled a number of high-profile cases. Because he represented persons accused of robbery, murder, drug trafficking and some prominent politicians involved in high-flying cases, Noel Archival was also well-known within the local media circle. News reporters covering the police and trial court beats are quite familiar with the jovial lawyer.
CCTN’s Dennes Tabar mentioned in Tuesday’s Sayri 47 that sometimes, the lawyer would volunteer information to his media contacts, a suggestion that Archival was comfortable being in the limelight and well-aware that the cases he handled are under close media scrutiny.
The police cannot pin down yet who masterminded the ambush but a member of the Archival family did not hesitate to say the attack on Noel must be related to his legal profession.
Cebu City councilor Nestor Archival said his brother had no known personal enemies but if one considers opposing parties as enemies, then that would be significant. Nestor’s views were shared by Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter president Elaine Bathan.
The angle is very disturbing because it suggests people think that lawyers who represent suspects in high-profile criminal cases also share the political and economic views or worse, endorse the activities of their clients. This is a gross misconception and the reason local IBP members are urging authorities to allow lawyers to carry firearms.
Tension among lawyers in the aftermath of Archival’s killing is understandable, but the grounds for the proposal are very mistaken. In the hands of a determined killer or group of killers as shown by the Archival case, there is little chance to fire back. Even if Noel was armed, he could not have subdued his attackers who sandwiched him front and back. He and his aides were not only outnumbered but also outgunned. There was simply no way out for the unfortunate lawyer.
The police should leave no stone unturned in solving the case because the victims deserve justice. Because the crime has sowed fear among many people especially lawyers, I can’t help but ask, naunsa man tawn ning hitaboa?
What is happening to our country?
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At the installation ceremony of the new team of pastors of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral parish last Monday, Cebu City’s main church was filled with well-wishers from all over the Cebu Archdiocese. The rite of installation was led by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma assisted by Episcopal Vicar General Roberto “Boy” Alesna.
To recall, Archbishop Palma initiated a major revamp in the local church, effecting changes in the different archdiocesan commissions and 20 parishes. Talk about reshuffling the local clergy has been rife ever since Palma was named Cebu archbishop in January 2011 upon Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal’s retirement.
The revamp of the parishes started more than a year ago and piecemeal, so to speak, beginning with some distant parishes here and there. But none is more anticipated than the changing of the guard in the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
Like the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is the largest and is considered the mother church of the Archdiocese. As such, the installation of a new team of pastors which replaced Boy Alesna and his team was a major event that invited media attention.
The new man at the helm is Msgr. Ruben Labajo, whose previous assignment is the St. Joseph the Worker parish in Tabunok, Talisay City. His fellow pastors are Msgr. Renato Beltran, who used to serve the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. James in Compostela, Cebu, Fr. Joseph Lareda of the Pope John XXIII Seminary in Mabolo, Fr. Macoy Villamor, former parish priest of Borbon, and Fr. Val Gemelo.
In stressing themes of love, respect, zeal and transparency in his homily, Palma was both fatherly and strict disciplinarian. This is the same message he conveyed to all the parishes that underwent leadership changes.
The Metropolitan Cathedral’s new team of pastors was presumably touched by Palma’s homily but it was his plea to all parishes to support the diocesan chancery that, I think, would energize their efforts.
The chancery may be likened to the executive department where various offices work to ensure the orderly and timely delivery of services. The chancery depends on the contribution of the parishes for its operations but many parishes can barely keep up with their daily needs, let alone pay their staff and basic utilities. In other words, they cannot remit anything to support the chancery.
Having said that, we can understand why Archbishop Palma needed all team ministries to recommit themselves to support the diocesan chancery. The Cebu Archdiocese will be fully engaged in major Catholic international events that will take place in Cebu City, in particular, the International Eucharistic Congress come 2016.
I had a brief interview with Archbishop Palma after the Mass and he told me that many people think the Catholic Church in Cebu is rich because of its grand churches, but in reality it is financially hard-pressed.
The new team ministries need to redouble their efforts not only for their respective parishes, but also more importantly for the bigger church.