Judge slay suspect freed on bail

BACOLOD City, Philippines – One of the suspects in the killing of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles was released from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Bacolod last Tuesday after posting a bail of P80,000, the National Bureau of Investigation said yesterday.

Alejandro Capunong, 28, who was arrested for illegal possession of firearms, is one of the 10 suspects in the murder of Arles, who was gunned down while on his way home to Ilog last April 24.

“It’s a sad day for all the victims of injustices and unjustified killings. It’s a bad day not just for the Arles family, but for all victims similarly situated,” lawyer Frank Britanico, spokesman for the Arles family and brother-in-law of the slain judge, told The STAR yesterday.

”It's also a sad day for law enforcers who spend time and effort and risk their lives to solve crimes only to find out that offenders will go scot-free,” he added.

Capunong, along with two other arrested suspects – Jessie Daguia and Eddie Fortunado – are members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army – Alex Boncayao Brigade.