Superintendent Federico Terte, Laguna police director, said they now have an artist’s sketch of one of the gunmen which was based on descriptions provided by those who saw Arcillas gunned down on the second floor of the Sta. Rosa town hall.
Terte said probers were looking into three angles in the killing: politics, personal grudge and the involvement of leftists.
In July 2003, Arcillas survived a slay attempt which he believed had something to do with the demolition of squatter shanties that resulted in the death of a supposed female member of the Kilusang Mayo Uno.
Arcillas was also one of the Laguna mayors who asked the Supreme Court to transfer detained Muslim leader Nur Misuari from Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa to another place because of fear of a backlash from his followers. — Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rene Alviar