Abra mayor’s brod nabbed for killings

BAGUIO CITY — A brother of an Abra town mayor was arrested last Tuesday by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Cordillera (CIDG-CAR) for the killing of three villagers last October.

Florencio Crisologo, 41, brother of Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo, was nabbed even as their supporters tried to prevent the arrest by barricading the Crisologos’ residence in Barangay Calaba in the capital town of Bangued.

Senior Superintendent Marvin Bolabola, CIDG regional chief, said Florencio, the municipal general service officer, was tagged in the gunslaying of villagers Arlino Dican, Ojane de la Cruz and Ronald Dican on Oct. 13, 2004.

Court records show that on the night of Oct. 13, Florencio, together with five companions identified as Joshue Zapata, Hermes Zapata, Inol Buyao, Samuel Batoon and Jessie Guidang, went to Barangay Silet in San Juan town armed with M-16 rifles and a 12-gauge shotgun and allegedly fired at the victims.

Authorities are still puzzled what prompted the group to shoot the three villagers.

Chief Inspector Rolando Osias, who led the arresting team, said they had tailed Florencio for a long time and was tipped off last Tuesday that he was in his brother’s house.

Florencio was arrested on the strength of a warrant issued by Bangued Regional Trial Court Judge Charito Gonzales. — With Myds Supnad