Not only two but three suspects in the killing of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles will be presented to the court on Sept. 27 and 28, and October 4 and 26, for arraignment of their illegal possession of firearms charges, and the continuing hearing on the Writ of Amparo, in Bacolod City.

Chief Ferdinand Lavin of the Bacolod National Bureau of Investigation yesterday confirmed that the court has ordered the NBI to present Jessie Daguia to attend his arraignment on charges for illegal possession of firearms, with Alejandro Capunong and Eddie Fortunado, on Oct. 26.

Regional Trial Court Judge Eliseo Geolingo had earlier ordered the NBI to transfer Capunong from its custody to the Bacolod District Jail. His arraignment, however, has been set by the court on Oct. 4.

Capunong, Jessie Daguia and Eddie Fortunado, all members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, who had confessed but later retracted their statements on their participation in the killing of Arles on April 24, in Ilog, Negros Occidental, are now under the protective custody of the NBI in Manila.

Bacolod RTC Judge Fernando Elumba also ordered the NBI to present Fortunado during the resumption of the hearing on a petition for a Writ of Amparo filed by Fortunado’s mother, Tessa, on Sept. 27 and 28.

For security reasons, Lavin said they will bring the three suspects together to Bacolod City.

“For the interest of justice, we will abide and comply with the court orders,” he added.

Romeo Subaldo, counsel of the three suspects, earlier said that he had already filed a motion for reduction of the bail of Daguia and Capunong.

Lavin had written to the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office asking for the transfer of custody of Capunong, Daguia and Fortunado to the NBI Manila office, because, in view of recent events, they may compromise their security arrangements, due to lack of facilities and manpower in Bacolod City.

Capunong, Daguia and Fortunado, who claimed to have been subjected to torture while under the NBI custody in Bacolod City, have sought the help of the Commission on Human Rights.

The NBI, however, said the allegations of torture have no basis.

Five RPA-ABB members, including Daguia, Capunong and Fortunado, Ilog Mayor John Paul Alvarez and his administrative aide, are facing a complaint of murder before the Department of Justice, for the killing of Arles.

Lavin, however, said there has been no changes yet inn their original complaint before the DOJ, to include the names of Vice-Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. and Cauayan Vice Mayor Jerry Tabujara, based on the testimony of a new witness in the Arles case.

Vice-Governor Alvarez and Tabujara vehemently denied allegations of their involvement in the assassination of Arles.* GPB

back to top