The lone survivor in the ambush-slaying of lawyer Noel Archival saw the faces of the gunmen who strafed them with automatic gunfire, police said yesterday.
Supt. Renato Malazarte, deputy director for operations of the Cebu Provincial Police Office and the designated spokesperson of Task Force Archival, said Paulo Cortes, the driver who was seriously wounded in the attack, was able gave the description .
“Actually naka-kita siya mismo kon si kinsa nagpusil kanila, gihimuan pud nato na og cartographic (sic) sketch,” he added.
The police are expected to present a sketch of the suspected gunman to the media today.
Malazarte, quoting the lone survivor, said he noticed that somebody was already following them while they were still at the Dumaguete City courthouse, but he did not bother telling the slain lawyer.
The police has also come up with a sketch of the suspicious person in Dumaguete based on descriptions provided by Cortes, who is recuperating in an undisclosed hospital.
Investigators were also sent to Dumaguete to gather clues, including closed-circuit television camera footage, that could help them identify the perpetrators of Archival’s killing.
Nelson Archival, brother of the slain lawyer, said Cortes can really help in the investigation considering that he was present when the ambush happened.
“Paolo is already in stable condition. He’s okay. He can help a lot. All we want for now is have a first base. We can have that if that gunmen will be identified and arrested. But if the mastermind will also be arrested, the better,” he said.
Police strongly believe that Archival’s murder is linked with his work as a lawyer for people involved in controversial cases.
“Based on our investigation, we concluded that this case is very work-related gyud. Amo ni siyang gihimay-himay, sa gi-conduct namu nga background sa iyang mga previous cases nga gi-handle, naa mi nakit-an nga kaso nga mao gyuy nakaingon sa iyang kamatayon,” Malazarte told reporters.
‘WHAT HAPPENED TO TATAY?’
Nelson Archival, brother of the slain lawyer, said he feels sorry for the children he left behind who until now have yet to get a clear picture on what happened to their father.
“What happened to Tatay? Why is he not talking anymore? Why is his eyes closed?”
These were among the queries made by Noel’s children as they took a glimpse of his remains lying in a white coffin at the St. Peter Funeral Homes in Cebu City.
Nelson yesterday told reporters that they have to let the children, especially the younger ones, understand what is going on. Archival left behind six children aged 24, 13, 11, 10, 5, and 3.
“We told the kids that their tatay was killed. In response, they asked ‘who killed tatay?’ The younger ones really don’t understand what is going on,” Nelson said.
Nelson said he and Noel were supposed to meet yesterday to accompany their children in a school activity.
“Even how busy he was, he would always find time to be with his children. Noel is so close to his children. Every time, his kids has a recital in school, he’s always there,” Nelson said.