Probe Office may bring back 3 Arles suspects in Bacolod

THE National Bureau of Investigation-Bacolod may bring back here the three suspects under NBI custody in the killing of Kabankalan RTC Judge Henry Arles in compliance to the order of the court.

Lawyer Ferdinand Lavin, head of NBI-Bacolod, said that captivity of the three suspects, namely Eddie Fortunado, Jessie Daguia, and Vincent Capunong, is now being studied by the national office of the NBI.

The three were brought to Manila after they sought protective custody for alleged threats in their lives when they were apprehended and surrendered to the NBI.

Lavin said that Capunong and Daguia were ordered by the court to be present during their arraignment for the case of illegal possession of firearms filed against them while Fortunado's attendance was required by the court during the hearing on September 27 and 28 for the petition for the Writ of Amparo filed by his mother, Tessa Fortunado.

Lavin said that the three suspects could be turned over to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), as they were all charged for the case of murder before the Department of Justice (DOJ) because of the killing of Arles.

Arles was assassinated in Barangay Manalad, Ilog in April 24, 2012.

Lavin also said that during the preliminary hearing last Tuesday at the DOJ, only the lawyer of Mayor John Paul Alvarez was present. The lawyer asked for the extension for the filing of the counter affidavit of Alvarez, who was tagged as the mastermind in the Arles killing. (Teresa D. Ellera)