2 suspects nabbed in judge’s holdup

Two suspects in the robbery-holdup of a Dagupan City judge along the North Luzon Expressway last month were arrested yesterday.

Carlito Castillo, 36, and Norman Legario, 34, were pinpointed by lawyer Virgilita Castillo, wife of Judge Silverio Castillo, as the ones who held them up on the night of Dec. 14.

Castillo said their Toyota Revo suffered a flat tire which forced them to stop on the highway’s shoulder. As they were replacing the busted tire, the suspects arrived and announced the holdup.

Legario was allegedly armed with a knife and took their son, Joseph, by the neck. The judge fought back and tried to hit Legario with an iron bar. He missed, however, and the other suspect grabbed the bar and stabbed the judge with it, wounding him in the abdomen.

Castillo said they lost more than P25,000 worth of valuables to the suspects. She added that they are considering suing for damages since Judge Castillo was seriously wounded and had to be confined for five days at the hospital. She noted that their 15-year-old son, who is a special child, was traumatized by the incident and is now undergoing psychiatric treatment.

Legario, a former checker with the National Food Authority in Manila, said he was forced to rob the victims because his wife is pregnant and is due to give birth this month. He said he has been jobless for the last two months.

Suspect Castillo, on the other hand, expressed remorse over what he did. "Kung alam ko lang na Castillo din si Judge, hindi ko na sana siya sinaksak (Had I known that the Judge was also a Castillo, I would not have stabbed him)," he said.