Negros Occidental Vice Govenor Genaro Alvarez Jr. yesterday debunked insinuations that his son, Ilog Mayor John Paul Alvarez, is planning to leave the country.

The mayor, along with six others, is facing a complaint for the murder of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles.

The vice governor said he and the mayor only went to Manila late Wednesday for a medical check up as they are both diabetic, a disease exacerbated by stress.

“The stress of having to deal with murder charges against my son, who did not commit the crime, is affecting our health,” he said.

Meanwhile, Revolutionary Proletarian Army spokesman Victorino Sumulong yesterday said it was unfair of Frank Britanico, Arles' brother-in-law, to accuse the RPA-ABB of engaging in a cover-up of its members involvement in the judge's murder and of being a master of lies.

Five RPA-ABB members are accused, along with Alvarez, for the murder of the judge.

They are Marvin Salve and Gerald Gallano Tabujara, who are at-large, and Jessie Gedacan Daguia, Alejandro Castillo Capunong and Eddie Magno Fortunado, who are now under NBI custody in Manila.

Sumulong said they are still investigating claims that the RPA-ABB men were involved in the crime and if they find that any of them was at fault, they will not cover it up.

However, he said they are concerned and are investigating the claims that three of their members now in NBI custody had been tortured into admitting that they were involved in the Arles slay and that they are being illegally detained.

He said they were also informed that Tabujara could not have participated in the murder of the judge since he was then attending a three-day seminar in Kabankalan City of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

They are asking for a certification from the organizers that Tabujara was at their affair and not part of the team that assassinated Arles, he said.

We have no conclusion yet in our investigation into the involvement of the five in the murder of the judge, Sumulong said.

He also said they will present Tabujara and Salve to the media soon, after they have completed their independent investigation, so they can air their sides too.*CPG

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