Valera: What will I get for killing Benwaren?

BANGUED, Abra — "Next time, they will blame me for the slaying of Fr. (Conrado) Balweg and Mayor (Jose) Segundo," an upset Abra Gov. Vicente "Vicsyd" Valera said yesterday.

He was reacting to news report in The Star last Monday that quoted text messages saying he masterminded the killing of Tineg Mayor Clarence Benwaren in Laguna last week. Balweg was Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) chief while Segundo was a mayor of Tubo town. Their killing were owned by the New People’s Army (NPA).

The message had been circulating from a group called Alliance of Brave, Reformed, and Armed (Abra Brothers) and was received by, among others, The Star Baguio correspondent.

"I vehemently deny the baseless accusation," Valera told The Star Monday. "If they have any basis or evidence, what are they doing? They should go to the proper authorities immediately and I will present myself," he added.

He charged that a "vilification campaign" is being waged by his alleged detractors whom he said are composed of military personnel and disgruntled politicians. He claimed that this group is involved in illegal drugs distribution in his province. "They are out to discredit me because my determined efforts to stamp out prohibited drugs in Abra have adversely affected their operations," he said.

Valera did not identify them but pledged to unmask them "at the proper forum.

He said that since four months ago, he has received death threats through telephone and text messaging and his supporters had occasionally reported the presence of suspected hitmen in Abra.

"It’s an open secret in Abra that I am under threat even before Mayor Benwaren’s death," he said.

The governor said he had no motive to have Benwaren killed "what will I get?"

He said that he would have not wished Benwaren killed because it would be a "destabilizing factor to all the improvements and programs we are doing in Abra."

Imploring the Cordillera "sapata," an indigenous practice of swearing before the public, is challenged among those implicated in the Oct. 28 assassination of Tineg town mayor Clarence Benwaren by a barrage of text messages.

This as Abra governor Vicente "Vicsyd" Valera dismissed as pure "hogwash" allegations that he was the brains behind the killing, same is true with Police Sr. Supt. Eugene Martin.

A mediocre vigilante group calling itself ABRA Brothers three days ago began spreading their claim via text messages although they have not shown any face of their group yet.

"My conscience is clean," Valera said. "What will I get from killing Mayor Benwaren?" the governor said, still maintaining composure and calm amid the storm he is facing at the wake of the allegations purportedly being orchestrated by anti-Valera forces in Abra allegedly including police and military officials. Valera, however, still refuses to name names of those behind the propaganda campaign against him although he warns that he is piling up evidences against them and will "spill the beans in due time."

Police Supt. Eugene Martin also denied having any knowledge on the killing even as earlier text messages have tagged him and Bucloc mayor Malled Molina as the real brains of the assassination. He challenged everybody dragged in the killing to swear before the body of Benwaren, who will be interred tomorrow not on Wednesday as earlier reported, of their participation in the killing.