Sketch of gunman in slay of Baler judge released

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – Police have released a sketch of the gunman in the killing of Baler Regional Trial Court Branch 91 Judge Jude Erwin Alaba.

The gunman was described to be around 5’6” tall, of medium build and between 30 to 40 years old, Chief Superintendent Rudy Lacadin, director of Police Regional Office-3, told The STAR yesterday. 

A special investigation task group  headed by Senior Superintendent Danilo Florentino, Aurora police officer-in-charge, was created to investigate the killing.

Lacadin who went to Baler on Thursday, said task group members are preparing the documents and other pieces of evidence to identify the gunman.  

Alaba and his wife Margarita had just arrived at the RTC compound in Barangay Suclayin when the gunman appeared and fired at them. The gunman fled on a motorcycle.

Alaba died while being treated in a hospital, according to a police report. His wife remains confined in a hospital.

In a manifesto issued yesterday, the heads of the Philippine Judges Association, Metropolitan and City Judges Association of the Philippines Inc. and Philippine Trial Judges League Inc. called on authorities to arrest the suspect to bring justice to the family of Alaba.

”The assassination of Judge Alaba was executed with impunity and with intent  to undermine the rule of law, the independence of judges and faith in the judicial system...Let the firm rule of law prevail over the mob rule of men,” the manifesto stated. – With Edu Punay