Triggerman, 2 others hunted

Police have launched a massive manhunt for the alleged triggerman and two other suspects in the slaying of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin in Quezon City last Dec. 16.

Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin, Cordillera police director, said the suspected gunman, Gerry Turqueza, 23, who hails from La Paz, Abra, and the two others were linked to the Bersamin slay by two arrested suspects – former La Paz vice mayor Freddie Dupo and his cousin, Sunny Taculao.

However, Martin refused to identify the two other suspects so as not to jeopardize their follow-up operations.

Martin quoted Taculao as saying that it was Dupo who also recruited Turqueza, just like him, into the group, but could not say how much Dupo paid Turqueza for the “hit” job.

Dupo and Taculao were arrested last weekend in the mountains of Baras, Rizal. They are presently undergoing tactical interrogation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Taculao, according to Martin, revealed that Dupo gave him P50,000 for his allowance and for the purchase of a motorcycle he used in “shadowing” Bersamin in Metro Manila prior to the attack.

The motorcycle, which was registered under the name of Sgt. Rufino Panday, was recovered along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City hours after the slaying of Bersamin in front of Mt. Carmel Church, also in Quezon City.

On the day of the attack, Taculao said Dupo asked him to arrive early at the church and wait for a black E150, and determine how many were its passengers and whether they were armed with high-powered firearms. Bersamin owned the car.

Taculao claimed he arrived in the church past 3 p.m. The wedding of Bersamin’s niece, Pia, and the groom, Nino Embascado, both lawyers, was scheduled at 5 p.m.

When Bersamin arrived, Taculao said he sent a text message to Dupo telling him that the congressman had arrived, accompanied only by his police escort SPO1 Adolfo Ortega and a driver, and that they were armed with handguns.

While inside the church, Taculao said he saw members of his group and other “lookouts” he could not identify, started arriving and positioning themselves in the vicinity. However, he did not find Dupo there.

When the groom and bride were marching toward the altar, Taculao said he went outside and positioned himself in front of the church.

When shots rang out, Taculao said he saw Turqueza exchanging gunshots with Bersamin’s driver, a certain Allan, who was hit in the buttocks.

Taculao said he ran toward the parked motorcycle, started its engine and moved out of the area with Turqueza riding tandem with him.

Martin said the motorcycle developed engine trouble, forcing Taculao and Turqueza to abandon it along Aurora Boulevard.

“They sought refuge at the Amihan Hotel for four to five hours. They called up their contacts and left separately,” Martin told The STAR.

Dupo and Taculao went into hiding in the mountains of Baras town where operatives of the Cordillera police tracked them down through a sack of rice, which was being delivered to them along with other food supplies.

Martin said Turqueza and the two other suspects have gone into hiding in the mountains of Abra.

“The latest report we have is that Turqueza (is) being coddled by certain political leaders,” he said.

“We are now in the process of neutralizing him and the two other (suspects),” he added.