Emotional farewell for defender of lost causes

Nelson, Nilo and Nestor Archival (L-R) brothers of ambushed criminal lawyer Noel Archival during the burial at Angelicum Garden of Angels at barangay Canduman Mandaue City. ()

Lawyer Noel Archival was laid to rest yesterday beside his parents’ grave in an emotional funeral service at the Angelicum Garden of Angels in Mandaue City.

The 52-year-old lawyer’s white casket made its final journey from the Archival’s family home to the St. Joseph’s Church in Talamban, Cebu City where a funeral mass was held followed by a eulogy before the cortege proceeded to the private cemetery.

Archival, together with his three aides, were waylaid in Dalaguete town last Feb. 18. He and his security aide, Candido Minoza were killed instantly after gunmen sprayed bullets on their sport utility vehicle, while his driver, Alejandro Jayme died later in the hospital. Only Paolo Cortes survived the attack.

Police estimated the crowd, which include Archival’s family and friends, who attended the funeral to reach 3,000.
The requiem mass was officiated by Msgr. Carlito Puno while the homily was delivered by Fr. Paul Medina.

Ellen Archival, Atty. Noel Archival’s widow is comforted by her son as she break into tears after her eulogy during the necrological mass in San Isidro Parish church at barangay Talamban.

“Ing-ana usahay ang pag-alagad sa katawhan naay risgo labi na if we want the truth to come out,” Fr. Medina said.
(At times, that’s how life is lived, there are risks involved especially if we want the truth to come out.)

Fr. Medina also emphasized that the service rendered by the slain lawyer for people who found themselves abandoned or are fighting seemingly lost causes was a big help in changing the lives of others.

“Every morning, I cry as I see the casket of my husband and it’s painful,” the lawyer’s widow, Ellen, said in an emotional speech she delivered.
“If I could turn my tears to gold, I would be a millionaire right now,” she said.

“His death was painful but the only comfort and consolation is that he is in good hands right now,” Ellen said.

She added that the death of her husband is not the end but a new beginning for them.

“If before he defended the people then now he will be able to defend us as he is our guardian angel,” she said.

Noel’s daughter, Niza, thanked her father for being very supportive of her endeavors.

“Hi, Tay, thank you so much. Wherever you are, we love you,” she said. “Without you, I could not go to school and I could not play soccer. I promise to take the responsibility in taking care of my siblings,” Niza added.

Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival, the lawyer’s older brother, asked the public to pray for his brother.

“He was not selfish. His heart was full of goodness,” Nestor said.

As the funeral convoy inched its way out of Talamban, people standing by the roadside waved at the white hearse bearing Archival’s remains. Tarpaulin signs with “Goodbye Noel Archival, we love you” printed on them were also seen along the way.

Judge Meinrado Paredes, who marked his retirement from the judiciary yesterday, could not contain his emotion as his turn to speak about his friend came up.

“Noel identified himself with the poor and the oppressed people,” he said.

RTC Judge Meinrado Paredes breaks into tears before delivering his eulogy.
(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

He said he knew the slain lawyer for more than 30 years and recalled the time when Archival was a paralegal volunteer.

“He knew the risks and he accepted the challenge. He did not expect reward, all that he received that time was money for his fare and food,” he said.

Paredes said while still a law student, Archival would attend court hearings and observe legal proceedings. “I told myself before that this man would become a great lawyer someday and I was not wrong,” he added.

“Success achieved through hard work. A high grade during the the Bar exams doesn’t matter. What’s important is how you would apply the law,” Paredes said.

The Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda) Cebu chapter hailed Archival for his  fight for the cause of the marginalized and his defense of  innocent victims of state persecution.

Marivic Pontreras, Secretary General of Selda-Cebu said: “He defended us with the same vigor he has defended victims of human rights in the 1990’s.”

It was also the early exposure of Archival to human rights violations as paralegal volunteer of Selda that inspired him to take up law studies and embark on a career as criminal defense lawyer.

“His exposure to wanton corruption and horse-trading in the reactionary justice system would lead him to devise unorthodox legal strategies for which he would be known and missed,” she added.

Archival consistently supported their campaigns and mobilizations for justice but also the individual well-being and safety of the victims.

“He shared our ideals that true justice could never be achieved in our country as long as the basic problems besetting us are not resolved,” Pontreras said.