The Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade will not condone the possible involvement of any of its members in the assassination of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles, but the National Bureau of Investigation should grant them due process, its spokesman Victorino Sumulong said yesterday.

Arles was driving home when he was assassinated in Ilog town, Negros Occidental, on April 24.

Sumulong charged the NBI with failing to follow due process in the arrest of three of its members, and called on the NBI to present them to their worried relatives who have not seen them for a month so they can be assured that they are all right.

The RPA-ABB is also conducting a thorough internal investigation to determine whether it is true that its members were involved in the Arles murder, but they need access to those arrested to get their side, he said.

NBI Bacolod head Ferdinand Lavin confirmed Tuesday that they have arrested Jessie Daguia, Alejandro Capunong and Eddie Fortunado on June 23 and 27 for illegal possession of firearms, and brought them to Manila for safekeeping.

“All three sought protective custody,” their cooperation and turning state witnesses is under consideration, Lavin said, stressing that due process was observed in their arrest.

“These people fear for their lives…for their safety,” he said.

Justice Secretary Laila de Lima has been monitoring their investigation into the killing of Arles and is very appreciative and supportive of what the NBI has done, he said.

The NBI has filed charges for illegal possession of firearms against the three before the Negros Occidental Prosecutor’s Office.

But Sumulong said they consider the arrest of the three illegal, calling it an abduction.

It has been almost a month since their families have had any contact with the three, he added.

The three are profiled members of the RPA-ABB, and if guns were found in their possession this should have been reported to the joint panel on the peace process, Sumulong said.

Lavin, on the other hand, said the NBI followed due process, the three were arrested outside areas covered by the peace process where the RPA-ABB can carry firearms.

The three also did not have any documents to show that they were authorized to carry firearms or that their weapons were licensed, he said.

He said the three underwent medical checkups and are represented by their own lawyer, whose name he withheld for security reasons.

Everything will be validated when we file the case on the Arles murder within a month, Lavin added.*CPG

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