Judge killed in Negros

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A trial court judge in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental was shot to death by two unidentified suspects on board a tricycle along the national highway of Ilog town last Tuesday night. Ilog police chief S/Insp. Joshua Villasis Police said Judge Henry Arles of Regional Trial Court Branch 61 based in Kabankalan City was driving his Nissan Sentra in Brgy. Manalad when two armed men riding a tricycle shot him three times around 6:45 p.m.

Arles, 62, was rushed to a hospital in Kabankalan but was declared dead-on-arrival.

The victim was driving his car alone and was on his way home to Brgy. Dancalan in Ilog when the suspects overtook the vehicle on the left side.

Villasis said he immediately coordinated with the adjacent police stations right after the incident to conduct checkpoints but the operation turned out negative.

Police recovered three fired cartridge of a still unknown caliber of firearm from the crime scene. The items were brought to the PNP Crime Laboratory for examination to determine the firearm used in crime.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental police director, said he has created a task force headed by Supt. Leo Irwin Agpangan to focus on the investigation.

Villasis said a witness is now in their custody but is yet to identify the gunmen.

Police are yet to determine the motive behind the incident.

In 2008, Arles was one of the four judges in the country that were given the Judicial Excellence Award as an outstanding RTC judge by the Supreme Court.

Conferred the Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña Award, Arles’ drive for excellence has resulted in an impressive case disposition record. Since joining the bench in 2000, Arles posted an average monthly disposal of 47 cases, having reduced the caseload of his sala from 1,037 in 2000 to 486 in 2008.

This feat earned him an award by the Rotary Club of Manila for having the highest disposal of cases in Western Visayas, the Judicial Excellence Award from the Negros Occidental Regional Trial Court Judges Association, and the International Star Award from the Knights of Columbus.

He was also among the judges with the highest disposal of cases in the country, as culled from the records of the Court Administrator. - /JMO