Revenge motive in killing of Bucay, Abra councilor

BUCAY, Abra -- Police are eyeing revenge as the motive behind the ambush-slaying last Oct. 5 of a councilor here.

Chief Supt. Eugene Martin, Cordillera police director, said councilor Juanito Zales, a retired policeman and a close ally of former Abra Gov. Vicente Valera, was earlier tagged as the alleged mastermind in the killings of two barangay chairmen, Eduardo Gonzales and Eddie Tadeo, in the recent elections.

However, Martin clarified that they had no witnesses to pin Zales in the murders of Gonzales and Tadeo.

But Zales’ son Judor was detained after he was charged as the principal suspect in Gonzales’ killing.

Last Sept. 27, Martin said the elder Zales approached local clerk of court Floriane Bernandez and asked her to downgrade the case against his son to homicide so he could post bail.

But Bernardez, according to Martin, reasoned out that only the judge could issue an order.

Martin said they were also looking into other angles in Zales’ killing as his companion during the ambush, Rex Bringas, claimed recognizing one of the attackers as a member of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army.

In the last May elections, Zales ran under the PDSP party of Baby Co, an ally of Valera, who ran for Abra congressman but lost.

Zales won, but Co lost to Kampi mayoral bet Rex Bernardez, a relative of the slain Bernardez.