The Argao trial court issued arrest warrants against the three Highway Patrol Group (HPG) policemen who were tagged as suspects in the ambush of Cebuano lawyer Noel Archival and his two companions.
Judge Maximo Perez of the Regional Trial Court branch 26 in Argao ordered police units and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to immediately arrest Senior Supt. Romualdo Iglesia, Senior Supt. Joselito Lerion, and PO1 Alex Bacani.
Since April 2014, the three policemen were detailed at Camp Crame in Manila, under the close watch of the Philippine National Police.
NBI-7 Regional Director Max Salvador said he already sent copies of the arrest warrants against Iglesia, Lerion, and Bacani to Camp Crame last Friday. “We have yet to receive feedback from Camp Crame,” he said.
Defense lawyer Inocencio De La Cerna Jr. said they were surprised with the issuance of arrest warrants against the three policemen.
“We still have eight pending motions filed in court. But the judge first resolved the judicial determination of probable cause without going to the more important motions,” he said.
De La Cerna said they will be filing a motion for reconsideration to contest the issuance of arrest warrants against the three HPG policeman.
Asked if the three policemen are still in Camp Crame, he said “As far as I’m concerned, they are still in Camp Crame. But I don’t know their present whereabouts.”
Barangay Talamban Councilman Nelson Archival, brother of the slain lawyer, said the issuance of arrest warrants against the three policemen was long overdue.
“This serves as a Christmas gift to our family,” he said.