LAWYER Noel Archival once called a judge an addict in open court, remembered Councilor Gerardo Carillo, who delivered a privilege speech remembering his fellow lawyer and “kompare.”
It so happened that Archival, some years ago, questioned the authenticity of the shabu presented in court as evidence. The judge tasted the evidence and Archival yelled that the judge is an addict.
“The entire gallery burst into laughter. He was actually trying to emphasize that the accused must be presumed innocent until proven otherwise,” Carillo said in his privilege speech.
Carillo shared that Archival is the godfather of his kids and, in turn, he was also asked to become the godfather of one of Archival’s children. The two met as law students.
With the privilege speech, Carillo also moved to condemn the brutal killing of his compañero, which was passed on mass motion.
Other motions were to extend condolences to the family of Archival while also urging the Philippine National Police “to conduct a no-nonsense investigation of the death of Atty. Archival.”
The slain lawyer is the younger brother of Councilor Nestor Archival.
The councilor did not attend the regular Council session yesterday.
Mayor Michael Rama also condemned the “treacherous” killing of the lawyer.
But he refused to admit that peace and order in Cebu is already alarming.
Rama, though, gave importance to an integrated law enforcement in the entire Cebu.
He has tasked the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to help in the investigation even when it is no longer the City’s jurisdiction.
The killing of Archival also brought to light the risk involved in being a lawyer.
Both Rama and Carillo are lawyers.
“I did not rise in this podium just because Noel is a friend or because he is Nestor’s brother, but because he is a lawyer just earning his keep; he is a professional trying to represent his clients in the courts of law,” said Carillo in his privilege speech.
“Lawyers like Noel are often misunderstood. Our passion to represent our clients often earns the ire of the adverse party.”
Carillo remembered some of the lawyers killed in the past years like Atty. Jubian Achas on Jan. 22, 2013, shot by Canadian John Pope, who also shot to death.
Other shooting incidents that killed lawyers include Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Patrick Ian Osorio in 2009, Atty. Richard Sison in 2008 and Atty. Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco, the private prosecutor in the parricide case against cult leader and former congressman Ruben Ecleo Jr., in 2004.
Incidentally, Archival was a defense lawyer in the Yongco murder case.