Slain judge’s family pleads for deterrent to killings

BACOLOD CITY—THE family of slain Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles is asking President Aquino to help speed up the arrest of the perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to the continued killings of judges.

“We’re calling on the President and the secretary of interior to help us resolve the case,” said Ted Britanico, brother-inlaw of the victim.

“I am sure if this case is resolved right away, this would discourage other criminals from executing judges because they will know they cannot hide, they will be caught,” he added.

Palace spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a text message to INQUIRER that President Aquino had ordered Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to investigate Arles’ murder.

He added Robredo has formed a task force and initial reports indicated that the murder was work-related.

Arles, of RTC Branch 61 in Kabankalan City, was driving home to Ilog town when a gunman on board a tricycle fired at him thrice on the national highway in Barnagay Manalad past 6 p.m. on April 24.

Supt. Calixto Mabugat, Kabankalan police chief and member of the police Task Force Arles, described the ambush as “well-planned.”

He said police are in possession of sketches of a man and a woman who were seen in the vicinity of Arles’ courtroom before the judge was killed on April 24 and are considered suspects.

The suspects were in the courtroom the entire day until the judge left and headed home, said Mabugat.

Britanico said the judge’s family planned to put up a reward for information that could solve the murder of Arles and other judges.

Chief Justice Renato Corona condemned the killing of Arles, said Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez.

According to Marquez, Corona urged the law enforcers to work on the case with speed and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Chief Justice also instructed Marquez to extend all the help that the Supreme Court could give to Arles’ family.

Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, regional police director of Western Visayas, ordered provincial and city police directors to identify judges and court personnel with threat to their lives so police could provide them security.

Querol said Arles’ killing alarmed the judicial community in Western Visayas and had cast doubts on the capability of police to protect members of the judiciary.