Slain Abra mayor ‘possesses’ kin, warns more blood will flow

BAGUIO CITY – Believe it or not, but relatives of slain Abra mayor Clarence Benwaren claimed that he "possessed" a niece of his wife during the wake here Thursday, and warned that more blood would flow in the province.

Benwaren’s relatives, who witnessed the incident, recalled that the slain Tineg town mayor, talking through Aida, a niece of his wife Soledad, wanted to be buried here, saying there could be more violence if his body is brought to Abra.

The clan, however, apparently disobeyed this because they decided to bring Benwaren’s remains to Bangued, the capital town of Abra, yesterday morning.

What puzzled Benwaren’s relatives was that Aida spoke in the Tingguian dialect which she possibly cannot because she is a Kankanaey from Besao, Mt. Province.

During the supposedly paranormal incident, Aida first talked to Benwaren’s brother Tony, telling him to take care of Soledad.

She then threw her arms around Soledad, stroked her hair and muttered "Ma," which Benwaren called his wife.

Aida then proceeded to pick flowers from the wreaths and gave them to everyone in the wake. It was at this instance that Soledad fainted.

Abra Gov. Vicente Valera has called for calm and sobriety in the aftermath of the Benwaren killing, saying the incident again shows how justice grinds in the province.

Benwaren, 37, was gunned down while acting as a wedding sponsor at the Calauan, Laguna church last Tuesday.

Tineg Vice Mayor Edwin Crisologo, whom Benwaren’s brother implicated in the killing, said he has tightened security for himself and his family.

Crisologo, who has denied the allegation, said he fears for his family’s safety because they have been receiving death threats through text messages.