NBI: No need for hold departure order vs Archival slay suspects

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) need not seek a hold departure order (HDO) against the regional PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG-7) officials who were implicated in the murder of lawyer Noel Archival and his companions last Feb. 18.

NBI Regional Director Max Salvador said the transfer of four of the controversial policemen from the HPG-7 to Camp Crame will ensure that they are under the custody of the Philippine National Police.

“Mas napaganda pa ngayon. (The scenario now is much better). Once the charges against them will be filed in court, it will be easy for us to locate them,” he told reporters in an interview.

Salvador said a relief order means that the four policemen are “restricted to camp” and couldn’t easily leave the premises of Camp Crame.

He said officials of the PNP will be held liable in case the four HPG policemen will run away from the charges filed against them. “We no longer need an HDO now,” Salvador said.

In an order dated April 16, Chief Supt. Arrazad Subong, head of the PNP Highway Patrol Group, ordered the relief of Senior Supt. Romualdo Iglesia, HPG-7 director; Senior Supt. Joselito Lerion; Chief Insp. Eduardo Mara, and SPO4 Edwin Galan.

The four HPG officers were ordered to report to the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame where they will be placed under the Personnel Holding Administrative Section (PHAS).

Supt. Rommel Ochave of the PNP’s intelligence division in Camp Crame was designated as the new HPG-7 head.

A separate relief order is expected to be issued for PO1 Alex Bacani who was also tagged in the fatal ambush of Archival and his companions.