Sketches of suspects in judge's slay out

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines — The police released yesterday the artist’s sketches of the two suspects who reportedly conducted a stakeout on Kabankalan City Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles on April 24, the day he was killed.

Chief Insp. Rico Santotome Jr., spokesman of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) and the Task Group Arles, said the sketches were of a man and a woman “pointed out by a witness who were last seen conducting surveillance activities” at the RTC Branch 61 building in Kabankalan City hours before Arles was killed.

Santotome described the man as “40-to 45-year old, medium build, 5’4" to 5’6" in height and dark brown in complexion” while the woman as “between 20-25, 5’1" more or less and has a small build with brown complexion.”

Superintendent Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental Police director, said initial investigation showed the man and the woman were the ones who probably alerted the gunman and the driver of the tricycle when the victim left the RTC. He said the gunmen were probably hired killers.

Task Group Arles, headed by Supt. Leo Irwin Agpangan, presented the sketches to his men and to the media after their second case conference at the NOPPO headquarters in Bacolod yesterday morning.

Lawyer Ma. Estelita Arles, the judge’s daughter, announced in the conference that her family is putting up a cash reward for the arrest of the suspects, although a specific amount was not disclosed yet, Santotome said.

President Benigno Aquino had ordered Interior Secretary Jesse Roberto to investigate the killing of the judge, while Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona and Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr. had also ordered the police to arrest the suspects immediately.

Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., director of the Police Regional Office-6, ordered Guisihan to hasten the investigation on the case, and ordered all police units to secure judges and other threatened court personnel in the region.

Guisihan assured the victim’s family of the police’s all-out action for the immediate resolution of the case, but declined to give a timetable so as to prevent half-baked results that may lead to the arrest of fall guys instead, Santotome said.

Santotome said the Task Group is now considering several angles as the motive in the killing, one of which was work-related.

Arles is set to be buried today at the Rolling Hills Memorial Park in Bacolod, beside his wife, the late Susan Britanico Arles.

The judge is survived by his children Rey, a member of the US Special Force in Texas, lawyer Albert who is working with the Sugar Regulatory Administration, Phillip who is now based in Korea, and lawyer Maria Estelita who has a law firm in Makati. (FREEMAN)