Abra mayor, cop tagged in killing

MANILA, Philippines - Police have in their custody two witnesses who pointed to Mayor Dominic Valera of Bangued, Abra and his police escort as among those who allegedly gunned down the driver of a rival candidate during a campaign sortie Thursday.

The statements of the two witnesses – a driver and a security guard – were used as basis for the filing Thursday night of murder charges against Valera, his police escort PO2 Joseph Barreras and several John Does before the Abra prosecutor’s office in connection with the killing of Mario Acena.

Acena was a driver of Ryan Luna, son of Abra Rep. Cecille Luna and Valera’s rival in the Bangued mayoral race.

Prosecutor Nestor Tolentino ordered Valera and Barreras to be placed under police custody.

“As there appears a prima facie case to justify the conduct of inquest proceedings, respondents shall remain under police custody until the completion of the process,” Tolentino said.

Barreras signified his desire to consult a lawyer, as Tolentino directed him and Valera to submit a manifestation on whether or not they are availing themselves of their right to preliminary investigation.

Valera earlier had denied the allegation, saying he was willing to undergo paraffin test.

Upon his doctor’s advice, Valera was rushed to the St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City after he complained of chest pains. He is now being guarded on a 24-hour basis by a 10-man police team from Abra.

Chief Superintendent Villamor Bumanlag, Cordillera police director, said Barreras is also under police custody and will undergo paraffin test.

Bumanlag said they are still gathering additional witnesses to help identify the others involved in Acena’s killing.

One of the witnesses said he was driving the “Weapon” campaign vehicle of Ryan Luna when he made a mistake of turning left in a street intersection in Barangay Cosili West, Bangued town at around 8 a.m. Thursday.

He said Luna was campaigning in the neighborhood and allowed him and Acena to drive while playing his and his mother’s campaign jingles and that of administration presidential bet Gilbert Teodoro.

He said he encountered the three-vehicle convoy of Valera’s son Domino so he decided to turn back. Domino’s group was also campaigning in the area. But to the witness’ surprise, Mayor Valera’s vehicle was already blocking their path.

It was at this juncture, he said, when Mayor Valera alighted from his vehicle, approached Acena, who was seated in the passenger’s seat, and allegedly dragged him while at the same time hitting him with a pistol butt.

The witness said Barreras approached him and allegedly started beating him up.

In his statement, the witness said Acena was pleading for his life when Valera allegedly shot him with a pistol.

“Acena was asking for forgiveness, saying there was nothing personal as it was only a job for him to earn a living when he was shot,” the witness said.

The second witness corroborated his fellow witness’ statement.

Bumanlag said responding policemen caught up with Valera’s group while they were seeking shelter in several houses in the neighborhood.

A search of these houses yielded two caliber .45 pistols, a baby Armalite rifle, a shotgun, a caliber 9-mm pistol, and a grenade.

Bumanlag ordered the seized firearms subjected to ballistic tests and cross-matching with slugs and empty shells recovered in the crime scene.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa ordered the Abra police to rotate its personnel to prevent more election-related violence in the province. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe and Artemio Dumlao