PNP: Murder case versus ex-Abra governor 'airtight'

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police and the prosecution have an “airtight case” against former Abra governor Vicente Valera and his companions for the murder of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin in December 2006, PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said.

“Investigators have pieces of evidence to support charges against them,” said Verzosa in an earlier interview.

Verzosa has personal knowledge of the probe in the murder of Bersamin last Dec. 16, 2006, being the head of the Task Force Bersamin and then chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) that investigated the incident.

In 2004, Verzosa was the police regional director of Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) when the PNP created Task Force Abra, designed to dismantle private armed groups of politicians in the region and Valera was among the politicians believed to have maintained PAGs.

The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office has found probable cause to indict Valera and two others for the murder of Bersamin and his police bodyguard, SPO1 Adelfo Ortega, in front of Mt. Carmel Church in Quezon City last Dec. 16, 2006.

Bersamin’s driver, Allan Sawadan, and a 15-year-old boy, Rolly Boy Labaja, was also hit with bullets but survived.

Quezon City Assistant City Prosecutor Gibson Araula Jr. recommended the filing of two counts of murder and two counts of frustrated murder against Valera, his close-in security Sgt. Leo Bello, and Jerry Turqueza.

Araula recommended no bail for the murder charges and P200,000 for the frustrated murder charges against Valera, Bello and Turqueza.

“The evidence on the existence of a conspiracy among respondents and Dupo and Taculao is very strong,” Araula said.

Two other suspects, Freddie Dupo and Sunny Taculao, alleged that Valera wanted to kill Bersamin, who indicated intentions to run for governor against Valera’s wife.

Valera denied his involvement and claimed he had “never any serious personal and political differences with Bersamin, so he would have no motive to eliminate him.” – Cecille Suerte Felipe