MALOLOS CITY—The cash reward for any information that may lead to the identity of the killers of Regional Trial Court Judge Wilfredo T. Nieves last week has reached P2.5 million according to police.
Sr. Supt. Ferdinand O. Divina, Bulacan police provincial director, said the cash incentive jumped from P1.5 million to P2.5 million over the weekend as a close friend of the victim, who requested anonymity, offered an additional P1-million cash.
Operatives are now tracing the whereabouts of a silver Toyota Innova and a gray Hyundai Tucson allegedly used by the assassins of Judge Nieves.
Nieves, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court (Branch 84), was on his way home at about 5 p.m. last Nov. 11 when the Fortuner he was driving was peppered with bullets at a stop light along McArthur highway in front of the Bulacan Industrial Park in Barangay Tikay here.
Nieves’ ambush has sent jitters not only to members of the Judiciary here but also to fiscals and law practitioners who have clamored for tighter security measures inside the whole provincial capitol compound here that houses all the RTC offices and the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
Yesterday, the Hall of Justice at the compound that houses the 27 salas of the RTC was unusually gloomy and silent as Nieves remains was scheduled to be cremated at the Loyola Memorial Homes along Commonwealth Avenue, QC where it has laid in estate since Thursday.
The door to the court staff room of RTC-Branch 84 was a mixture of grief and symbolic greetings which might send an eerie thoughts to superstitious people. “Welcome to Branch 84 with a black wreath.”
Also last Thursday, many of the judges of the Bulacan RTC applied for permit to purchase and possess guns as the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office sent a Mobile Team to expedite the processing of their licenses including their escorts.
Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Rudy Lacadin has tasked Divina to head a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG-Nieves) to solve the ambush in the shortest possible time and to ensure the safety of the judges in the province.
RTC Judge Tom Danguilan of Branch 21 said the security measures for members of the bench are quite inadequate and there’s much to be desired. He said even if we arm ourselves and our bodyguards our fate are always at the mercy criminal elements.
Judge Basilio R. Gabo Jr. of RTC-Branch 11, who just retired last Sept. 10, told The Standard that the court handling drug-related and heinous crimes should be institutionalized. “A special team like the Secret Service in the US or the PSG should be tasked to secure judges handling high-profile crimes.” He said.
Gabo said the Supreme Court should create heinous crime courts to insure that presiding judges will be insulated from politics and other influence that might tarnish their impartiality and integrity.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Central Luzon earlier issued a statement condemning the killing and called on authorities to leave no stone unturned to get the killers of Nieves.
IBP-Central Luzon Gov. Jose “Peng” dela Rama Jr., said: “We strongly condemn this act of cowardice and treachery. He was a good man and loyal to his profession. Lawyers and judges must be protected under our laws. Members of the bar and bench must always be vigilant at all times.”