Archival slay trial to be held in Cebu
THE criminal case of the ambush-slay of lawyer Noel Archival and his companions will be heard in Cebu City.
Citing security reasons, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of venue of the trial from Argao town in south Cebu to the Cebu City Regional Trial Court (RTC).
The plea of three accused former policemen to transfer the case to Metro Manila was denied as “impractical”.
The High Court said this may only delay proceedings and cause a miscarriage of justice.
“It is more pragmatic to transfer the case to the RTC of Cebu City rather than in the RTC of Metro Manila considering the residences of private complainants and some of the witnesses…,” read the High Court’s notice received by lawyer Democrito Barcenas, one of the counsel of the Archival family.
The case will be raffled to a presiding judge. Senior Supt. Romualdo Iglesia, Senior Insp. Joselito Lerion and PO1 Alex Bacani -the three former troopers of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) — stand accused of the lawyer’s murder.
They are all at large.
Barcenas said he and the Archival family were happy with the High Court’s order.
“At least, we no longer need to travel to Argao during trial dates. That means lesser risk for us, prosecution lawyers, and our witnesses. We thank the High Court for this wise move,” he said.
Barcenas said he hoped the three accused former HPG members will be arrested so trial can begin.
“If they are really innocent, why don’t they submit themselves to the court’s jurisdiction and face trial right away? They have gone underground. Flight is an indication of guilt’,” said Barcenas.
Barcenas called on all law enforcement agencies to go after the “fugitives”.
Lawyer Inocencio De La Cerna Jr., one of the counsel of the defendants, refused to comment on the SC order.
Iglesia, Lerion, and Bacani are facing charges of frustrated and multiple murder in court.
In Feb. 18, 2013, Archival was gunned down during a car chase in Dalaguete town.
He was with his aides Candido Miñoza, Alejandro Jaime, and Paolo Cortes, riding on their way back to Cebu City from Dumaguete City when they were ambushed by armed men on board two vehicles. Only Cortes survived.
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