Bersamin slay suspect faces perjury raps

The Quezon City Police Department is set to file perjury charges against a suspect who implicated Abra Gov. Vicente Valera in the Dec. 16 killing of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin outside Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City.

This despite the fact that the suspect, identified as retired sergeant Rufino Panday, reportedly retracted his initial statement to the police.

Superintendent Franklin Mabanag, chief of the QCPD criminal Investigation Unit (CIU), said the recent statement of Panday that he was only forced to sign his earlier statement was absurd because he was provided with a competent lawyer and all his constitutional rights were respected during the investigation.

"All the information came from Panday, I do not know the people he mentioned in his statement," Mabanag told reporters during the press briefing at CIU headquarters at Camp Karingal in Quezon City.

Panday’s statements also matched with testimonials as well as physical and forensic evidence recovered from the crime scene.

According to Mabanag, they have witnesses who positively identified Panday as the one who purchased the motorcycle, which was abandoned by the suspects near Aurora Boulevard and Balete Drive in New Manila, minutes after the killing.

Panday also led to the recovery of a revolver believed to have been used in the crime.

Mabanag vowed to pursue the case despite threats from Panday‘s lawyers that he will be charged for alleged harassment.

"It’s a matter of seeking justice for the death of Rep. Bersamin," Mabanag said.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said yesterday that Panday’s retraction would not have any effect on the case.

NBI-National Capital Region (NCR) Director Ruel Lasala, who is also a member of Task Force Bersamin, said Panday’s retraction is immaterial because it was done long after the inquest.

"His extra-judicial confession is already part of the court’s records," he said.

Meanwhile, Task Force Bersamin and the family of the slain politician were not surprised with Panday’s move.

Charrie Bersamin, eldest daughter of the slain congressman, said it is even expected, knowing how powerful, influential and moneyed Valera is.

Panday has claimed in his earlier testimony that Valera bankrolled the murder of Bersamin, who was rumored to be planning to run for governor in Abra.

Charrie maintained that the Bersamin family believes in Panday’s earlier confession that he was given P100,000 to serve as lookout in the assassination of the congressman.

Bersamin’s police aide SPO1 Adelfo Ortega was also killed in the ambush.

The Commission on Human Rights is now looking into reports that Panday was tortured to admit his participation in Bersamin’s murder.

Senior Superintenent Benjamin delos Santos, one of the police investigators handling the case, said they welcome the CHR investigation. — With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan