Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona yesterday condemned the murder of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Hernry Arles in Ilog town Tuesday night and called on the police to immediately hunt down his assassins.

Supreme Court spokesperson and Court Administrator Midas Marquez told the media the chief justice also ordered him to extend the necessary assistance to the family of Arles.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan yesterday also called on the Philippine National Police, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Justice, and the National Bureau of Investigation to quickly resolve the murder of Arles.

“We urge authorities to put a stop to senseless killings such as this. There have been a number of slays perpetrated with brazenness and impunity. The PNP and the NBI, together with the Judiciary, must exhaust all efforts to put a stop to these horrendous acts,” he said.

"My father was a man of integrity who was just and fair, with no known enemies. His death came as a shock to all of us," the daughter of Arles, lawyer Ma. Estelita "Ria" Arles, said yesterday.

Arles was driving his green Nissan Sentra when the driver of a tricycle drove up to the driver's side of his car and a gunman armed with a .45 caliber pistol shot him three times, Senior Inspector Joshua Villasis, Ilog police chief, said.

Ria said she did know why anyone would want to kill a man like her father. They have no suspects yet.

He was hardworking, devoted to the judiciary, and just in his decisions, she said.

Ria said her father visited her in Manila last week and they spent a lot of quality time together. “I asked him to extend his stay until tomorrow, my birthday, so we could return to Bacolod together as I planned on celebrating it with him,” she said.

But the judge said he had to return to Negros ahead because he had hearings and litigants waiting, she said.

“My father said people spend time and money to get to the courts for the hearings and it was not fair for them to end up with their cases being postponed because the judge was not back,” she said.

“We had so much quality time together last week and he did not mention getting any threats on his life. But in hindsight, there was a certain sad look on his face,” she said.

My father was a good, caring and loving man, who received many awards but did not brag about them because he was a humble man.
He was also a very good father, she said.

The judge who was originally from Capiz would have been 63 on May 23.
He was on his way to his wife's ancestral home in Dancalan, Ilog, where he stayed when in southern Negros, when he was shot.

His wife Susan Britanico Arles died of cancer three years ago.

He also has a house in Bacolod City.

The judge is survived by his children, lawyer Albert, Philip, Henry "Rey" and Ria.

His body lies in state at the Rolling Hills Memorial Chapels in Bacolod City.

Bacolod RTC Judge Ray Alan Drilon said Arles was a good and hardworking judge who is great loss to the judiciary.
He was a good and responsible family man and loving to his children, he said.

Karapatan Negros, in a statement yesterday, said it strongly condemns the brutal killing of Arles.

"It shows that impunity still exists under PNoy. It is a great loss to the judiciary in Negros as Judge Arles is an example of fair judgement in upholding the rule of law. We call for an immediate investigation to bring the perpetrators before the bar of justice," Karapatan said.*CPG

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