Probers of the National Bureau of Investigation are looking into an influential group in southern Negros, that may have been involved in the murder of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles, NBI Bacolod chief Ferdinand Lavin, said yesterday.

Task Force Arles probers are also looking over four major cases handled by the judge where his decision had aggrieved three parties, Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said.

Guisihan said they are scrutinizing thoroughly each of the four cases, in which the aggrieved parties could not accept the decision of Arles.

Police probers said the suspects may have been guns-for-hire, and the motive for the killing of Arles was job-related.

Arles, 62, succumbed to three gunshot wounds from a .45 caliber pistol used by the gunman who was on the tricycle, in Brgy. Manalad, Ilog, on April 24. He had served as Kabankalan RTC judge for13 years.

“We are scrutinizing court records transcriptions, inquiring about reactions of the aggrieved parties and families on the decisions of Judge Arles as to their cases,” Guisihan said.

The process of elimination is still ongoing, he added.

Guisihan said the two suspected “look-outs”, whose facial sketches have been released to the media, remain the possible assassins of Arles.

The tricycle, used as getaway vehicle by the fleeing assassins of Arles, is now being looked for in Ilog, Kabankalan City, and as far as Cauayan.

The Arles family is offering P1 million for any information that could lead to the arrest and indictment of those responsible for his death.

Guisihan said the family may make an announcement soon, in connection with the killing of the judge.

Lavin said they were ordered by the Secretary of Justice and the acting NBI director to conduct a parallel probe on the murder.

He assured Guisihan that they will work closely with the police and share with them whatever leads they may have. When they are ready to file the case, they will file it jointly, Lavin added.*GPB

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