Accused in archival slay off to crame 4 HPG-7 cops get marching orders

CEBU, Philippines -  Effective last Holy Thursday,  the four members of the Highway Patrol Group-7 accused in the ambush and murder of lawyer Noel Archival were relieved from their posts and reassigned to the national headquarters in Camp Crame as part of the ongoing investigation of the case.

According to the order from the national HPG headquarters issued last April 16, HPG-7 chief Senior Superintendent Romualdo Iglesia, Senior Inspector Joselito Lerion, Chief Inspector Eduardo Mara and Senior Police Officer 1 Edwin Galan are relieved from their present assignment and ordered to report to the Personnel Holding Administrative Section in Manila.

 It also stated that Superintendent Rommel Ochave from the Intelligence Division will be designated as HPG-7 officer-in-charge, replacing Iglesia.

 The order was officially signed by HPG Human Resource and Doctrine Development Division Chief, Senior Superintendent Rey Butacan.

 Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna told the media that they welcomed the order of the HPG relieving Iglesia, Mara, Lerion and Galan from their posts.

 HPG-7 spokesman Senior Inspector Oliver Plania clarified that the relief order does not mean that the four HPG-7 officials have already been found guilty in the murder of Archival.

He explained that once an operative of the HPG will be involved in an issue, he has to be transferred to PHAS for easier communication in the ongoing investigation.

“Ibalhin sila ngadto aron dali ra sila mapatawag by the time naa ipapangutana in relation to the ongoing investigation. Basin huna-hunaon sa uban nga magsige sila og trabaho bisan og naa’y giatubang nga kaso,” he said.

 They also expect that another reassignment order will be given to Police Officer 1 Alex Bacani of the HPG-7 soon.

Plania said they have not received any additional advice yet from the national HPG office with regards to the reassignment of the four HPG-7 officials. 

He added that the positions of Mara, Lerion and Galan are vacant for now. He added that they will request the national office for additional officers to occupy the vacant seats.

 â€œSamtang wala pa, kami lang gihapon usa. Kun mahimo, amo lang i-cope up kay maproblema unya ta kadugayan,” he said.

For the meantime, he said that he shall temporarily take over some of the responsibilities left by the other officers in addition to his current duties.

Despite this, Plania assured that the HPG-7 will be able to cope with its operations. He said that the ongoing and future activities of HPG-7 such as the motorcycle riding course will not be affected but will still continue.

 â€œDili na mahimo nga mapasagdan bisag kuwang mi,” he said.

 Mara, who visited his office at Camp Sotero Cabahug in Gorordo Avenue yesterday, said that they received the order last Thursday and are willing to comply with them.

 â€œMurag apil na ta sa nalansang,” he said.

 He also they were not given any specific assignment yet from the national headquarters and he has no idea who will take over their posts.

 While the rest of the accused HPG-7 officials declined to issue any statement to the media, Mara remained firm that he had nothing to do with the death of Archival since he was not in control of  the impounding area of HPG-7.

 Mara holds four designations in HPG namely as the provincial chief, deputy regional chief, clearance officer and administrative officer.

 Plania said that since Mara also functions as the clearance officer, they will temporarily halt the signing of clearances until such time another officer will be put in charge of the position.

 â€œIf wala’y lain, ako lang usa mopirma. Besides, ready na for signature ang clearance. Although, wa pa’y order gikan sa taas so hold muna,” he said.

Plania ranks second next to Ochave.

 Meanwhile, Dela Cerna said they have full trust and confidence in the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office to resolve the complaints of multiple murder and frustrated murder against their clients fairly.

Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba on Monday issued a Memorandum No. 2014-27 naming prosecutors Petronio Elesterio, Jay Paradiang, Rustom Presas Jr., Ferdinand Collantes and Al Rey Ouano as members of the panel.

Archival and his companions were ambushed in Barangay Coro, Dalaguete town, while they were on their way to Cebu City on February 18 from a hearing in Dumaguete City.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)