Judge shot, killed in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—A Regional Trial Court judge was ambushed and killed by a gunman while the victim was driving home past 6 p.m. Tuesday in Ilog town, Negros Occidental.

Judge Henry Arles of the RTC in Kabankalan City, 62, suffered gunshot wounds in the body and in the right palm, said Senior Superintendent Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental police director.

Guisihan said he had created Task Group Judge Arles headed by Supt. Leo Agpangan to identify and arrest the gunman and his companion.

He said they had yet to determine the motive of the killing.

Initial investigations showed that Arles was coming from work in Kabankalan and was driving home to Barangay (village) Dancalan, Ilog, about 6:45 p.m.

Upon reaching the highway in Barangay Manalag in Ilog, a tricycle drove alongside the judge’s Nissan Sentra.

The passenger of the tricycle fired thrice at the driver’s side of the car, using a .45-cal. pistol, said Senior Inspector Joshua Villasis, Ilog police chief.

The tricycle then sped off.

RTC Judge Edgar Garvilles in Bacolod was surprised to hear about the assassination of Arles, saying the victim was a friendly man. With a report from Jamie Marie Elona