P2-M reward up in judge’s slay

MALOLOS, Philippines – Friends, fraternity brothers and local officials yesterday raised a total of P2 million as reward for anyone who can provide information and identify the killers of Malolos Regional Trial Court Judge Wilfredo Nieves.

Malolos police chief Superintendent Arwin Tadeo said P1.5 million was offered by people who wanted to remain anonymous while P500,000 was put up by the city government.

Chief Supt. Rudy Lacadin, Region 3 police director, created the Special Investigation Task Group Nieves and ordered Sr. Supt. Ferdinand Divina, Bulacan provincial police director, to head the unit and to “identify and arrest” the assailants.

The group immediately looked at all the cases that the judge handled and examined existing CCTV recordings to zero in on the killers.

Lacadin also instructed the unit to provide immediate protection to Nieves’ wife and other close family members.

Initial investigation showed that Nieves left his office at the Bulacan Capitol compound and headed home at around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. While traversing MacArthur Highway, he stopped at a red light in Barangay Ticay, where unidentified gunmen jumped off a car and a motorcycle to pepper Nieves’ vehicle with bullets.

Nieves, who presides over RTC Branch 84 in Bulacan, was hit in the forehead, neck and body and died instantly.

It appeared that he did not receive any threats prior to his killing.

Malacañang, the Supreme Court and the Bulacan and Central Luzon chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) condemned the killing of the judge in statements issued yesterday.

“IBP-Bulacan condemns, in the strongest terms possible, this brutal and cowardly attack. The fangs of terror will never cower us. Our resolve to fight for justice, freedom and peace will only grow stronger than ever.

“This senseless killing, in broad daylight and on a public highway, underscores the deteriorating state of peace and order in the country. May your soul rest in peace, Judge Willy. You will be missed,” the statement read.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and all the Associate Justices expressed their “outrage and sadness” over the incident, as they called on authorities to “take all necessary steps with all deliberate speed to do justice for Judge Nieves.”

Presidential  Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a chance interview at the World Trade Center, said “the government is doing everything possible to bring them to the bar of justice” as the Palace “condemned this act of violence.”

He assured the public that the police are tracking the suspects and that the “government is determined to bring the perpetrators to the bar of justice.” With Janvic Mateo, Ric Sapnu, Edu Punay, Delon Porcalla