Con reported dead, alive, meted death

It is not true that ex-policeman Nonilo Andaya Arile was killed by fellow inmates shortly after his transfer from the Quezon City Jail to the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa on Sept. 13 this year, according to a top prison official.

The STAR earlier reported that sources at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) had received reports that Arile was killed by fellow Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gangmates at the NBP.

"Death comes early to a would-be-death convict," according to a report filed by this reporter on Nov. 15. Arile was convicted in August this year by Quezon City Judge Jose Catral Mendoza for the killing of fellow inmate Dante Viray on Sept. 10 last year inside the Quezon City Jail. Arile was the mayor of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gang at city jail.

According to court records, Arile had suspected Viray, a gang member, of carrying on with his wife, and stabbed him to death.

The judge slapped the ex-policeman with a penalty of between 20 and 40 years in prison. Shortly after the ruling was handed down, he was transferred to the NBP, which is under the Department of Justice.

But The STAR reported that Arile, a former member of the Western Police District (WPD), was awaiting the promulgation of a kidnap-for-ransom case filed against him in the sala of Branch 76 Judge Monina Zenarosa when he was killed.

Sources at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said some gang members had allegedly taken revenge on the ex-policeman for his ruthless reign at the Quezon City jail as leader of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gang.

Court staff also said they received the same reports from some BJMP officials who asked not to be named. The court staff, however, added that they had yet to get an official confirmation from the NBP officials.

On Oct. 25, Judge Zenarosa handed down the ruling declaring Arile and co-accused Carlos Parian guilty of abducting a six-year old preparatory school pupil last year. A co-accused, Renato Gasmen Jr., had turned on them, agreeing to testify as state witness.

The judge meted out the penalty of death on Arile and Parian. Two other suspects, Arthur Tamzon and Francisco Mortel, were acquitted.

Court staff scheduled a separate promulgation for Arile who, under prison rules, must hear the judgment within the confines of the NBP. The scheduled promulgation however, was canceled, for no apparent reason. Reports began surfacing at the BJMP on Arile’s demise in the hands of his fellow gangmates at the NBP.

"I have personally talked to Arile," said NBP Superintendent Armando Miranda, "He is alive and in good health."

Miranda sent Judge Zenarosa a letter denying the report. He said when he talked to Arile about it, the man at first frowned and then smiled. "He is protected and secure here," said Miranda in the letter, a copy of which was furnished to this reporter. "And he will remain secure until his release from this prison." The other day, the ruling on the kidnap-for-ransom case was finally read in Arile’s presence at the NBP.

A court staffer present during the promulgation said Arile only shook his head when asked what he thought of the news of his premature death and told them, "I think I am a victim of false conviction." "He maintained that he is innocent of the charges," the staffer said – Romel Bagares