Philip Arles: Alvarez behind dad’s slay

PHILIP Arles on Wednesday claimed that Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez masterminded the killing of his father, the late Judge Henry Arles.

However, Vice Governor Alvarez vehemently denied the charge, saying that it is all lies and fabrications.

Philip is running for the Sixth District congressional seat against the vice-governor’s daughter, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez.

Speaking in a press conference at the Business Inn, Arles and his sister Atty. Rhea Arles said they called for a conference after they received information that the Alvarez camp will present the accused members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) to testify that they don't know the vice-governor and that they were only tortured to admit the crime.

Philip said that they had a video footage of the suspects crying and kneeling in apology before his sister Rhea, admitting that they killed the judge whom the Arles family considered as a just and fair man and officer of the court.

Philip said it pained him and the family to hear that Vice-Gov. Alvarez consistently considered the killing of the judge as politically motivated.

How can it be politically motivated when his father does not indulge or engage in politics, he asked.

Philip also said that their mother has in fact been reminding their father to take care of his safety. But Judge Henry, when he was still alive, was confident that nothing wrong will happen to him because he is doing what is just and fair.

Alvarez is a master of deception, Arles said.

Meanwhile, Alvarez denied Philip’s accusations, saying that the concerned parties should just wait for the decision of the Department of Justice where the information on the judge’s killing has been filed.

He said that Philip will lose in the May 13 election, like in the past when he lost by 100,000 votes.

The vice-governor denied Philip’s his claims, stressing that there is no truth to those allegations.

"We are being destroyed in this issue and not the suspects. We will wait for the decision of the DOJ and file the necessary charges against them so that they will know how painful it is to be charged innocently," he said.

Alvarez also denied using their power and influence in the implementation of various programs of the government.

He reiterated that he will win by 200,000 votes in the gubernatorial race this coming May 13 polls.

Arles, however, insisted that the Alvarez will not win even in the 6th District, the vice-governor’s bailiwick.

"I want to correct Govenor Alfredo Marañon’s statement that he will not win in the 6th District. The people there want change and they want to let go of the environment of fear and threat," Philip said.

For her part, Rhea said that she joined her brother because they want justice to be served for their father.