Abra's Valera placed on hold-departure list

The Bureau of Immigration has included Abra Gov. Vicente Valera in its hold departure list.

Immigration Associate Commissioner Roy Almoro said the hold departure order (HDO) against Valera was issued last Feb. 12 in compliance with the order of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 223 Judge Ramon Cruz stemming from the charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives lodged against the governor.

Almoro explained Valera will not be allowed to leave the country without the permission of the court.

Government prosecutors earlier sought to have Valera included in the HDO list but defense lawyers argued it would be a violation of the governor’s constitutional right.

The court allowed the motion and ordered the BI to issue the HDO on Valera.

The court took note of a police intelligence report detailing the supposed plans of Valero to leave the country.

Valera is facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives after he was arrested along with his bodyguards during a routine police checkpoint in Quezon City last Dec. 29.

Valera and his bodyguards were accosted by operatives of the police Traffic Management Group (TMG) for driving a vehicle without license plates.

The governor was on board a silver Chevrolet Suburvan with his three armed bodyguards when he was accosted by TMG agents who noticed the vehicle had a siren. Valera was ordered released after posting bail amounting to P310,000.

Immigration records also showed Valera was included in its watch list since Dec. 22 after he was linked to the assassination of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin Jr. last year.

Bersamin was gunned down by unidentified armed men outside a church in Quezon City last Dec. 16.

Valera was included in the watch list order by Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. following the recommendation of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.