Warrant out vs gunman in Aurora judge’s slay

BALER, Aurora, Philippines – A local court here has issued a warrant for the arrest of a man tagged in the killing of Judge Jude Erwin Alaba of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 91 in this town late last year.

Judge Maximo Ancheta of RTC Branch 90 issued the warrant against the alleged gunman, identified as Eugene Pingol.

The suspect, along with several others who have yet to be identified, were named respondents in a complaint for murder and frustrated murder filed by assistant provincial prosecutor Phanie Rose Aragon-Saez.

Alaba and his wife Margarita had just arrived at the RTC compound in Barangay Suklayin when Pingol reportedly shot them on Sept. 1.

He died from a bullet wound in the chest while Margarita was hit in the arm.

No bail was recommended for the murder case while P200,000 was set for frustrated murder.

Pingol was identified through a sketch, based on a description provided  by one of the witnesses.

A team of police investigators reviewed the 240 cases handled by the slain judge, in the hope to solve the killing.

The task group formed to handle the case is looking at drugs, land dispute, murder and other cases being heard in Alaba’s sala.