Suspects in judge’s slay plead not guilty

MANILA, Philippines - Three suspects charged for the death of a Negros Occidental judge in 2012 have pleaded not guilty to murder charges filed against them before a Quezon City court.

Jessie Daguia, Eddie Fortunado and Alejandro Capunong entered not guilty pleas during their arraignment on Wednesday before Regional Trial Court Branch 100 Judge Genie Gapas-Agbada, court records released to the media yesterday showed.

The three were charged for the shooting of Kabankalan City Regional Trial Court Branch 61 Judge Henry Arles in Bacolod City on April 24, 2013.

In June, the Supreme Court granted the petition of Arles’ son to transfer the venue of the trial from Negros Occidental to Quezon City.

The three suspects, believed to be members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB), have earlier denied involvement in the crime. They are currently detained at the Quezon City jail.

The suspects surrendered in August 2013 upon the filing of the charges against them.

Meanwhile, police is still on the lookout for four other men charged for the death of the judge: alleged RPA-ABB members Marvin Salve, Gerald Tabujara and Rustom Puro as well as former Ilog municipal government employee Emmanuel Medes.

Earlier, the Department of Justice dismissed for insufficient evidence the murder complaint filed by the Arles family against then Negros Occidental vice governor Genaro Alvarez Jr.; his son, then Ilog mayor John Paul Alvarez; and incumbent Cauayan Vice Mayor Jerry Tabujara.