Slain judge’s children ask DOJ: Reverse rule on Negros Occidental vice gov

BACOLOD CITY—The children of slain Kabankalan Judge Henry Arles on Tuesday asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reverse a resolution dismissing a murder complaint against Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Genaro

Alvarez Jr., his son Ilog Mayor John Paul Alvarez and Cauayan Vice Mayor Jerry Tabujara.

A motion for reconsideration was filed by Albert and Philip Arles, with their sister, Maria Estelita Arles, acting as counsel. The Alvarezes and Tabujara have insisted they were not involved in the judge’s murder. Their lawyer, Dan Pondevedra, said he does not believe the DOJ would reverse its resolution.

On Nov. 19 last year, the DOJ dismissed the charges against the Alvarezes and Tabujara for “insufficiency of evidence.”

The same resolution recommended murder charges against several members of the breakaway rebel group Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade.

The Arleses said there was overwhelming circumstantial evidence pointing to Mayor Alvarez as the mastermind in the murder of Judge Arles.

“Direct evidence is not the only matrix where from a trial court may draw its conclusion and finding of guilt,” said the Arleses’ motion.

Mayor Alvarez, it said, had the motive to have Judge Arles killed because it was the judge who helped bring a case against the mayor at the antigraft court Sandiganbayan.

The mayor, the motion said, was heard by another suspect in the murder giving instructions to carry out the murder.

Another witness heard a phone conversation between two suspects in the killing mentioning the name of Mayor Alvarez, the Arleses’ motion said.