Prosecutors Inhibit in Archival Ambush-slay Case

Members of the investigating panel of the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s office on Wednesday inhibited from resolving the complaints hurled against the officials of the Regional Highway Patrol Group (RHPG)-7 allegedly involved in the ambush of lawyer Noel Archival.

Assistant Prosecutors Petronio Elesterio, Rustom Presas Jr., Ferdinand Collantes, Al Rey Quano and Jay Paradiang, in their motion, has decided to inhibit from further resolving the multiple murder and frustrated murder cases on the ground of “mistrust” and not on the legal aspect.

Cebu Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba said the inhibition is still subject to a motion for reconsideration. Petralba approved the inhibition filed by the lawyers, adding that a copy of the order will be furnished to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Petralba also said she will transmit the whole records of the case to the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor.

“The panel of prosecutors maintains that the motion for inhibition did not cite any valid ground to justify their inhibition.

However, to uphold and preserve the integrity and credibility of the office and in order to avoid any suspicion of bias or prejudice, the panel voluntarily inhibits and moved to be relieved of their responsibility,” the order reads.

Hazan Bargamento, one of the legal counsels of the respondents, said the approval of the Prosecutor’s Office is not really considered as a “win.”

He said all they wanted is for their clients to be given fair play. They believed their clients’ innocence, a report from PNA said.

Lawyer Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu, lawyer of the Archival camp, said the panel ruled to inhibit even though there was no valid ground cited.

Dalawampu described the act as “a cowardice and remiss of duty to run away with the tail between the legs.” She added that the panel “has clearly shown lack of moral and legal fiber” to resist duress and threats.

Earlier, respondents filed a motion before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office seeking for the prosecutors’ inhibition from proceeding with the preliminary investigation in the interest of “fair play.” They also filed a request before the DOJ seeking for the transfer of the preliminary investigation in Manila, citing Archival’s elder brother, incumbent Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival’s potential influence to the prosecutor’s office.

Source: PNA