Sketches of 2 suspects in Negros judge's slay out

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines – Police released yesterday the artist’s sketches of a man and a woman who reportedly conducted surveillance on Judge Henry Arles of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental hours before he was shot dead last Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Rico Santotome Jr., spokesman of the Negros Occidental police and Task Group Arles, said the sketches were based on the descriptions given by a witness of the two suspects conducting surveillance at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 61 building in Kabankalan hours before Arles was killed.

Santotome described the man as 40 to 45 years old, 5’4” to 5’6” tall, and has medium build and dark brown complexion, and the woman as 20 to 25 years old, about 5’1” tall and has small build and brown complexion. 

Based on initial investigation, Superintendent Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental police director, said the two were the ones who probably alerted the gunman and the driver of the getaway tricycle that Arles had left the RTC building.

He said the gunmen are probably hired killers.

Task Group Arles, headed by Superintendent Leo Irwin Agpangan, presented the artist’s sketches to the media after their second case conference at the provincial police headquarters in Bacolod City yesterday morning.

Santotome quoted lawyer Ma. Estelita Arles, the slain judge’s daughter, as saying that their family would put up a cash reward for the arrest of the suspects, although she did not specify the amount. 

President Aquino has ordered Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to investigate Arles’ slay. Chief Justice Renato Corona and Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr. also asked the police to arrest the judge’s killers immediately.

Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol Jr., Western Visayas police director, ordered Guisihan to hasten the investigation, and for all police units in the region to secure judges and other court personnel who are facing threats to their lives.

“We cannot ignore this incident. We need to protect our court personnel, particularly our judges whose lives are always at risk,” he said.

Guisihan assured Arles’ family of all-out police action in promptly resolving the case, but declined to give a timetable, Santotome said.

Santotome said Task Group Arles is considering several angles in the ambush-slay, although work-related motives are being considered more. 

Police believe that Arles, who was driving his Nissan Sentra on his way home to Barangay Dancalan in Ilog town, was followed by the suspects from his office in Kabankalan until he reached Barangay Manalad, also in Ilog, where he was fired at three times.

Arles, who sustained three gunshot wounds, was declared dead on arrival at the Southern Negros Doctors’ Hospital in Kabankalan.

Superintendent Calixto Mabugat, Kabankalan police chief, believes the triggerman must be a professional shooter, citing the grouping of bullets that hit the window at the driver’s seat side of Arles’ Nissan Sentra.

Senior Inspector Joshua Villasis, Ilog police chief, said they were not aware of any death threats against Arles nor have they received any complaints from him.

Arles, who had received various awards for his speedy disposition of cases, is the first Negros Occidental judge to have been killed, Santotome said.

Arles will be buried today at the Rolling Hills Memorial Park in Bacolod, beside the tomb of his wife, Susan Britanico Arles. Arles is survived by his children Ma. Estelita, who has a law firm in Makati City; Rey, a member of the US Special Force in Texas; Albert, a lawyer working with the Sugar Regulatory Administration; and Phillip, who is now based in Korea.  – With Cecille Suerte Felipe