One of the three detained members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade accused for the murder of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles before the Department of Justice was released from the Bacolod district jail in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod, yesterday morning after posting bail.

Alejandro Capunong, 28, of Barangay Tabu, Ilog, posted a P80,000 surety bond, for illegal possession of firearm charges filed against him by the National Bureau of Investigation before the Bacolod RTC.

The DOJ preliminary investigation into the NBI-filed raps for the murder of the judge against Capunong and his co-accused is still ongoing.

It is a sad day for the family of the judge and a happy day for the masterminds of his murder, Arles’ brother-in-law, Frank Britanico, said yesterday.

Namedby the NBI as respondents, along with Capunong for the murder of Arles are Ilog Mayor John Paul Alvarez , Emmanuel “Eman” Medez – an alleged aide of the mayor, and RPA-ABB members Marvin Salve and Gerald Gallano Tabujara who are not detained, andJessie Gedacan Daguia and Eddie Magno Fotunado who remain in NBI custody in Manila.

The Arles family has also asked the DOJ to include Negros Occidental Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez and Cauayan Vice Mayor Jerry Tabujara as respondents in the murder case.

All the respondents havedenied involvement in the killing of the judge in Ilog town on April 24.

Capunongyesterday said he, along with Daguia and Fortunado were tortured into admitting participation in the murder of Arles, but the truth is they had nothing to do with his killing.

The NBI and the Arles family, on the other hand,have denied that torture took place.

Capunong said he was happy that he was released on bail so he can return to his family.

He is confident that his comrades in the RPA-ABB will secure him against those who may be out to eliminate him, said Capunong, who assured that he will not run away from the pending cases against him as that would be an admission of guilt.

Daguia, who is still in NBI custody, is also preparing to post bail for the illegal possession of firearms case also filed against him by the NBI, while Fortunado is also seeking his liberty, Capunong said.

NBI Bacolod head Ferdinand Lavin said they cannot continue holding on to the detained RPA-ABB men as posting bail in their right.

They can only re-arrest them if warrants of arrest are issued for the pending murder raps against them, Lavin added.

Britanico said the release of Capunong is “a sad day for the victims of injustice, and the law enforcers when they see the futility of their efforts in solving a crime…this shows how ineffective our system can be, even for a slain multi-awarded judge.”

But, “This is a happy day for criminals themselves, the masterminds, including the organization and persons whoare helping these criminals in the guise of defending human rights,” Britanico added.

This could have been prevented if the justice system did not move so slowly in solving the murder case filed against the suspect, he said, adding that they have filed a motion before the DOJ for the early resolution of the case.

They hope this is only a temporary setback, and the murder suspect will eventually be rearrested and face the murder charges against him, Britancio added.*CPG

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