IBP chapter condemns killing of Ilocos judge

LAOAG CITY — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ Ilocos Norte chapter has condemned the ambush-slaying of Batac Regional Trial Court Judge Ariston Rubio and asked that justice be speedily meted out to his killers.

This developed as Superintendent Romeo Espiritu, Ilocos Norte police director, admitted yesterday that investigators are looking into the circumstances behind a search warrant which Rubio had issued against a barangay official in Currimao town.

The provincial police earlier said that search warrants which Rubio had granted and controversial cases he was handling may have something to do with his murder.

The STAR has learned from Noli Pipe, Ilocos Norte chief of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), that Rubio issued the search warrant against the Currimao barangay chairman, said to be identified with losing mayoralty bet Cirilo Quilala, two days before the May 14 elections.

The search yielded high-powered firearms, including an M-16 Armalite rifle and a shotgun, Pipe said.

Quilala subsequently lost the election but filed a protest against the proclaimed candidate, Rosario Go. Rubio was handling the case.

Pipe said Currimao was declared a "hot spot" during the poll campaign. Among those killed there was Edgar Quinto, president of the Association of Barangay Captains who was reportedly identified with Go, according to Pipe.

Rubio was also handling another electoral protest in Paoay town, another poll hot spot, before he was killed.

In a resolution, the IBP-Ilocos Norte chapter, headed by Rogelio Bacolor, sought the Supreme Court’s help for the speedy solution of their col—league’s murder.