4 PAG members tagged in Abra ambush-killing

Charges have continued to pile up against 10 suspected members of an Abra private armed group (PAG) who were recently arrested at a police checkpoint in the northern province.

Police said witnesses have surfaced and tagged four of the 10 suspects as the ones behind the killing of six people, including a barangay captain, and the wounding of three others at the boundary of Barangays Pang-ot and Ba-i in Lagayan, Abra last May 4, or 10 days before the midterm elections.

The four were identified as Codiem Bilong, Joel Sulian, Celeno Bagnalen, and Dominador Balucas.

Chief Superintendent Raul Gonzales, Cordillera regional police director, said the cooperation of witnesses is one of the key factors in resolving the spate of killings in Abra.

“In the past, fears for their lives have kept witnesses from testifying in court. This incident has opened a door of hope that Abreños are starting to show support for the campaign against crime by bravely facing the risks involved in doing so,” he said.

Gonzales said charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder have been filed against the four suspects with the Abra prosecutor’s office.

Earlier reports said a group of armed men, all wearing fatigue uniforms, were spotted in a barangay in Tineg town two days before the killing of Barangay Bai head Romero Guyang and five others.

The victims had just come from the wake of a relative of Abra Rep. Cecilia Luna when they were waylaid. Luna was supposed to be with the group but she left the wake early to go to Bangued, the capital town.