Kin of slain Negros judge seeks P-Noy's help

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines – The family of Kabankalan Judge Henry Arles is hoping that President Aquino will help them get justice for the judge who was gunned down last April. 

“We hope that what we are doing now to seek justice for Judge Arles would get the attention of the President, the Senate and House of Representatives,” lawyer Frank Britanico, spokesperson for the Arles family and brother-in-law of the judge, said Wednesday. 

Britanico and two of the judge’s children, Ria and Philip, held a press conference at the Negros Press Club in Bacolod to debunk allegations that the three suspects in the murder of the judge were tortured by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents to own up to the crime.

The family presented video interviews of suspects Jessie Daguia, Alejandro Capunong and Eddie Fortunado at the NBI Bacolod office before they were brought to NBI headquarters in Manila. 

The three suspects, who are members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, are detained at the NBI headquarters in Manila because they sought protective custody, NBI Bacolod head Ferdinand Lavin said. 

The relatives of the three suspects told a press conference Tuesday that they received information the three were tortured to admit the crime. They also asked the help of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to rescue the suspects. 

However, Britanico said video interviews showed that the suspects admitted the crime in front of reporters.

Philip dared Ilog Mayor John Paul Alvarez, whom the family alleged to be the mastermind of the crime, to submit himself to the NBI for questioning to clear his name.

“To Mayor Alvarez, you are of legal age, do not hide behind your father and the skirt of your sister. Go to the NBI office and give a statement, prove you are man enough,” Philip said. 

Alvarez, son of Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez Jr. and brother of sixth district Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, face murder charges along with nine others. 

The Arles family said they would pursue the case against the mayor. In a separate press conference, Genaro and Mercedes denied the involvement of John Paul in the crime.