More  witnesses in the killing of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arleshave come outto help the Task Force Arlesidentify  the three  suspects in his death.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said  numerous witnesses are now helping them  after seeing  the facial sketches of the three gunmen, who  had been  sighted in the vicinity of the Kabankalan RTC, before  the shootingofArles.

The facial sketches of two persons, one  a woman, believed to be “look-outs” of the assassins, are suspected to be “guns-for-hire”.  They were also established earlier by the police, through the help of another set of witnesses.

Guisihan said they are distributing the  facialsketches of the three gunmen today, and are  hoping that  this  will provide  a breakthrough in theirinvestigation.

A parallel investigation  conducted by the National Bureau of Investigations showed that an influential clan in southern Negros issuspected as the mastermind in the killing of Arles, andallegedly hired the services of local assassins.

While the NBI is pursuing its own theory, Guisihan said they are focusing on the motive,  and the suspects  in  the assassination,  to enable  them to unmask themastermind.

Arles,62, was gunned down by three suspects in Brgy. Manalad, Ilog on April 24.

His  family  is offering  a P1 million reward for the arrest and conviction of the suspects, on top of the P200,000being offered by the Philippine Judges Association.

Guisihan, who presided over another case conference to update the Arles family on the progress of their investigations, said they will  welcomehelp from the New People’s Army, who sent a letter of sympathy the family of the slain judge.

Maria Estelita “Ria” Arles, daughter of the slain judge, yesterday confirmedhaving  received a letter from the CPP-NPA-NDF,expressing their sympathy,  and also joining  them in seeking justice.

She  also sought the help of Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and local government executives in southern Negros, including Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco and Ilog Mayor Paul Alvarez, for the speedy resolution of the assassination of her father.

She saidthey have deposited the P1 million reward in a separate bank account,  for  those who can helpthem identifythe people behind his death.

“We want to send a very clear message to those who have information and could help in the apprehension of the suspects, that the reward money is ready and available,”  she  added.

She also said  the rebel group described her father as just and fair, inhandlingcases at the Kabankalan RTC.

“If the NPA have any information on  the killing of Judge Arles, just tell us. Their help is very much welcome,”  Guisihan said.*GPB

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