HPG’s silence

Happy Easter Sunday to all! I hope everyone observed the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ with prayers and introspection.

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Early this week, the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI 7) and a police office finally filed charges against four memers of the PNP Highway Patrol Group suspected of involvement in the killing of lawyer Noel Archival. The four did not attend the NBI’s inquiry or reply to the accusation.

It was strange that the four didn’t lift a finger to answer the serious accusation against them. The NBI filed the case with serious circumstantial evidence because they are still looking for eyewitnesses. But I think it would be very difficult to find someone willing to testify against HPG police members.

NBI investigators said that a standing dispute between Archival and the HPG police was likely the motive behind the killing.

The group of police led by Supt. Joselito Lerion almost came to blows last October after Archival had an extortion attempt recorded in the police blotter of the Mabolo police station in Cebu City.

The NBI found a document inside the red Toyota Vios sedan that was parked at the HPG 7 headquarters in Sudlon Lahug Cebu City last March 20.

It was also reported that Archival had received death threats from the Highway Patrol Group several days before he was killed. Archival had told some friends and relatives. The NBI was able to retrieve the logbook of the security guards at the HPG headquarters.

The found out that the red Toyota Vios with plate number GSR-995 went out and was driven by Lerion at 9:42 a.m. four hours before Archival and his companions were ambushed.

The same car still driven by Lerion went back to the HPG headquarters’ impounding area at 3:38 pm based on the logbook. The same logbook showed that the gray Mitsubishi Strada with plate number ZEZ 932 left the HPG impounding area at 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 17,2014 but did not mention who drove the vehicle.

On Feb. 18, 2014 at 4:22 pm the Mitsubishi Strada with plate number NVD came back to the HPG compound this time was driven by Iglesia. During surveillance, the NBI noted that HPG-7 personnel were interchanging the plate numbers for other vehicles. A forensic examination by the NBI on the red Toyota Vios revealed the presence of gunpowder nitrates on the front right window as well as the rear back window and carpet.

A bullet shell casing was found beneath the back seat that matched the empty shells found in the crime scene.

With this evidence, it would be interesting to hear the side of the HPG-7 on the complaint filed by the NBI as part of due process.

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I am happy that Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama visited Gov. Jun Jun Davide to discuss how to resolve the issues hounding the Ordinance 93-1 properties in Cebu City owned by the Province of Cebu.

Both officials agreed that the issues surrounding the long-time occupants should be resolved before the end of their terms in 2016. Rama suggested that the province donate the lots to the city in exchange for P500 million.

Governor Davide is open to the suggestion but asked for more time to study the proposal.
With friendlier relations between the two officials, many are hoping to see a resolution in favor of the present lot occupants.

There were previous attempts to resolve the 93-1 lot controversy during the terms of Mayor Tommy Osmeña and Gov. Gwen Garcia but they didn’t succeed after a controversy over remarks made by then Vice Mayor Mike Rama (“dawat ug limpyo”)and the strong personalities of both Garcia and Osmeña.

This marked the start of a political feud between the Garcias and Osmeña. Luckily today the leaders at the helm of Cebu city and province have friendlier relations since they were former colleagues in the Cebu City Council.

There is great hope that the 93-1 controversy would be resolved amicably with all parties satisfied with a settlement.