PNoy orders action on murder of Arles
Family to offer reward,
release 2 NBI sketches
BY CARLA GOMEZ

President Benigno Aquino III has instructed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to investigate the murder of multi-awarded Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles, his spokesman Edwin Lacierda said yesterday.

Robredo has formed a task force composed of the police and National Bureau of Investigation, and initial reports indicate the murder was work-related, Lacierda told the DAILY STAR.

The family of Arles yesterday called on the president to ensure that swift action is taken to arrest the assassins and resolve killing to prevent similar incidents from happening with impunity.

Police probers said they are hopeful that the facial sketches of two persons reported to have been monitoring the movements and activities of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles, prior to his death on Tuesday in Ilog, Negros Occidental, will provide a breakthrough in identifying and arresting them.

Supt. Calixto Mabugat, Kabankalan police chief, yesterday said they will show the facial sketches, one of them of a woman, to witnesses in the killing of Arles, who was gunned down in Brgy. Manalad, Ilog.

Mabugat said the National Bureau of Investigation is helping the Task Force Arles, of which he is a member, to solve the killing of Arles, 62, who had been the presiding judge of Kabankalan RTC Branch 61 for 13 years.

The Office of the Ombudsman Regional Office (Visayas) upheld an earlier decision of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas directing the Mayor of Bacolod to implement the penalty of dismissal from service upon five current and former employees of the Bacolod City Government after finding them administratively guilty of dishonesty.

The administrative case was filed by the Commission on Audit Regional Office 6 against former city accountant Pioquito Quiñones, acting Management and Audit Service Office head Ricardo Dahildahil Jr., former executive assistant to the mayor Renato Rojo, City Accountant Eduardo Ravena, Office of the Treasurer clerk Lalaine Villalva, and crafts and trade helper Salvacion Ortega.