Sandigan affirms suspension of Negros mayor

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Fifth Division of the Sandiganbayan has denied the motion of a mayor of Negros Occidental to stop the suspension order against him.

In a seven-page resolution issued last Feb. 8, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division said it did not find “cogent reason to disturb its resolution” as sought by Ilog Mayor John Paul Alvarez.

Alvarez and 10 others, including his father, Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez Jr., are facing murder charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the killing of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles on April 24, 2012. The DOJ has yet to rule on the merits of the case.

Philip Arles, the slain judge’s son, said the case filed against Alvarez before the Sandiganbayan was the reason why his father was killed. Arles was gunned down while on his way home last April 24.

“The mastermind of the crime suspected that our father was the one who followed up the case with the Sandiganbayan,” Arles said.

The suspension stemmed from a case filed against Alvarez and eight Ilog employees for allegedly ordering the release of P100,000 for the repair of the engine of a Pajero vehicle of the Department of Education  in Ilog town. The National Bureau of Investigation found out that although the funds were released, the vehicle was not repaired.