Guv: Alvarez innocent unless proven guilty

ILOG Mayor John Paul Alvarez is still considered innocent unless proven guilty of the case filed against him, said Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.

Marañon said this is part of the democracy in the country. He refused to comment further about the case, which is now with the Department of Justice in Manila.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Bacolod charged Alvarez and eight other suspects before the DOJ last Friday, July 27, allegedly for the murder of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Henry Arles last April 24, 2012.

In an interview last Sunday, Alvarez said he is innocent of the allegations that he masterminded the murder of Arles. He added that he was surprised to learn through reports that the NBI has filed the murder case against him.

He also belied reports that he already fled from the province, saying he continues to perform his duties and functions as mayor of Ilog and he still regularly reports to his office in the Municipal Hall.

The NBI never went to Ilog or asked me about my side on the case, the mayor lamented.

He branded the case as politically motivated and may have something to do with the P1.2 million reward money offered for the capture of the suspects in the Arles murder.

Meanwhile, EB Magalona Mayor David Albert Lacson, president of the Association of Chief Executives-Negros, said they fully support Alvarez.

Alvarez should explain himself in court to prove his innocence, added Lacson.