No torture of suspects in Arles slay

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — The Commission on Human Rights has confirmed the claims of the NBI that no torture was involved during the investigation of the three suspects who admitted participation in the murder of Kabankalan City Judge Henry Arles last April.

A report of the NBI Detention Center warden disclosed that the CHR team, which conducted medical examination on suspects Jessie Daguia, Alejandro Capunong, and Eddie Fortunado last Aug. 2, noted “no physical injury” on the three, said lawyer Frank Britanico, spokesman of the Arles family.

Britanico said this development further bolstered the statement of the Arles family and the NBI that the suspects were not tortured when they admitted the crime. The family of the three suspects, allegedly members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army—Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB), claimed in a press conference Tuesday that the suspects have been tortured in NBI Manila, where they were being held after they sought protective custody.

Based on the logbook report of Arnold Lazaro, warden of NBI Detention Center, a scanned copy of which was emailed by Britanico to the media Friday, the CHR team conducted a medical examination of the three suspects Thursday, in his presence.

The report stated that CHR team consisted of Dr. Narciso Voltaire Maniquis Jr., Rodolfo Tayao, Rodolfo Bagno, and Milagros Escober.

NBI-Bacolod head Ferdinand Lavin earlier said they arrested the three suspects last June 23 and June 27 in separate places in Bacolod for illegal possession of firearms, as they were suspects in the murder of Arles. The three reportedly sought protective custody so they were brought to NBI Manila, he said.

The NBI Bacolod filed charges for illegal possession of firearms against the three at the Negros Occidental Provincial Prosecutor’s Office last July 25, while the Arles family filed murder charges against them at the DOJ Manila last July 27.

The other suspects, Marvin Salve and Gerald Tabujara, also RPA-ABB members, and Emmanuel Medez, who is reportedly a personal aide of Mayor John Paul Alvarez of Ilog town, and three unidentified persons are still at-large.

Britanico also claimed that he received information that some people from Bacolod allegedly kept in touch with Daguia, Capunong and Fortunado while being detained at NBI Manila, and offer them cash rewards in exchange for “twisting” their earlier statements.

Lavin earlier said the three suspects tagged Ilog Mayor Alvarez as the alleged mastermind in the killing of the judge. The mayor, his father Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., and his sister, 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez have all denied that Paul has any involvement whatsoever to the crime.

Britanico told The Freeman that the DOJ is expected to issue a subpoena to Alvarez next week, after which a preliminary investigation will start. Then the DOJ, after determining if there is probable cause for the murder charges against the mayor, file a case before the RTC, which in turn will issue a warrant of arrest, he said.

In an interview Thursday, Rep. Alvarez said they are ready to face whatever charges hurled against the family. “But how can we face charges if we have not received any notice whatsoever,” she said. When asked if they will surrender John Paul to the NBI, she said: “Why would we surrender someone if there is no arrest warrant whatsoever? If there is any, then we will face it squarely.” 

Britanico added that more witnesses from the 6th district have come out during the course of the investigation, and they also pointed to the mayor as the alleged mastermind in the murder of Judge Arles.