SC monitoring case of Judge Arles murder

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Supreme Court is closely monitoring the progress of the case of the killing of Kabankalan City’s Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles, court administrator Jose Midas Marquez said Thursday.

Marquez said the monitoring is being done because the murder of Arles was committed in line with his official duty to uphold justice in the country.

Arles—who got various awards for speedy disposition of cases in his sala, including the Judicial Excellence Award as an outstanding RTC judge given by the SC in 2008—was gunned down by motorcycle and tricycle-riding men while he was on his way home to Ilog town, Negros Occidental last April 24.

Marquez said the SC is still awaiting a resolution of the DOJ, which was supposed to subpoena Mayor John Paul Alvarez of Ilog town in Negros Occidental this week but this was delayed because the DOJ had no office for the past three days because of floods.

Based on the recommendation of the NBI, the judge’s sons, Philip and lawyer Albert, have filed murder charges against Ilog town Mayor John Paul Alvarez and nine others before the Department of Justice in Manila last July 27

Mayor Alvarez, son of Negros Occidental Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. and brother of 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, was tagged by the Arles family as the mastermind of the crime. The mayor and his family have however denied the charges, saying it is politically motivated.

According to lawyer Frank Britanico, brother-in-law of the victim and the family’s spokesman, the other suspects charged with murder—Jessie Daguia, Alejandro Capunong and Eddie Fotunado, all members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB), are now in the custody of NBI Manila, while Marvin Salve and Gerald Tabujara, also RPA-ABB members, and Emmanuel Medez, an employee of the Ilog municipal government, are at-large along with three unidentified persons.

Britanico also told The Freeman the other day that there were new witnesses who have come out to give statements on the Arles murder case and volunteered to give more information and evidences.

The new witnesses, in support to the statements of previous witnesses, have also pointed out to Mayor Alvarez as the alleged mastermind of the crime, as well as the alleged involvement of the six suspects already named by the NBI.

“We are confident that their information would be able to strengthen the case against Mayor Alvarez and the other accused,” said Britanico, adding that their testimonies will be submitted to the NBI for verification and further investigation. - THE FREEMAN