Violence up in Abra; Rep Bernos aide shot

BANGUED, Abra – Poll related violence is up in this province with the latest case involving a murder try on the aide of Abra Rep. Ma Jocelyn Valera-Bernos who was shot Monday night in this capital town.

Around 100 army troopers were deployed in the province last week to help maintain peace even as police launched a manhunt for the lone gunman in the failed murder of Iralee Beralde (who was earlier reported killed), a support staff of Bernos in her district office in the province.

Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong named 20-year-old Ronald Jay Gavino, a resident of Zone 5 in Bangued, as the gunman who failed to kill Beralde.

Beralde, 42, was drinking with two other female friends when Gavino on board a motorcycle sprung from nowhere and fired at the congressional staff at around 11:35 p.m. Monday at Villamor Manzano St., Zone 5.

The victim, who sustained gunshot wounds on her right body and legs, is now being treated at the Abra provincial hospital.

It has yet to be determined if Gavino is a member of any gun-for-hire group or is in any way linked to rival politicians of  Bernos and her father.         

Beralde reportedly was under surveillance before the murder try as someone was getting her video in front of her house.

This, as supporters of fugitive Bangued Mayor Ryan Luna are still barricading the capital town hall despite the taking over of Vice Mayor Allan Seares, a cousin of the mayor, as ordered by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Calling for justice, supporters of Luna believe the local chief executive was a victim of political vendetta.

Luna is seeking for a re-election against Bernos’s father, Dominic, while his brother Hans is challenging Bernos and his mother, Cecille, is slugging it out with Bernos's ally— incumbent Gov. EustaquioBersamin in the gubernatorial race.

Gov. Bersamin administered the oath of office to Vice Mayor Seares, a relative of fugitive Mayor Ryan Luna.

Luna, along with six others, has been indicted for the killing of Brenda Crisologo, wife of Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo, during the counting of ballots in the 2007 polls. Luna’s brother Cromwell lost in the Tineg mayoral race then.

The Department of Justice has approved the indictment of Luna for the Crisologo slay, and Judge Jaime Dojillo Jr. subsequently issued the arrest warrant.

Six others were earlier charged for the killing.

Luna’s brother Hans, who is running for Abra’s lone congressional seat, said the charges against his brother are “politically motivated.”

The Luna brothers’ mother Cesy is running for governor.

Policemen failed to arrest Luna in his house or at the town hall Monday April 29 night when they served an arrest warrant issued by a Bangued Regional Trial Court in connection with the murder of then Tineg mayoral bet Brenda Crisologo during the 2007 poll canvassing.

Cordillera police director, Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong,  said the Abra police provincial office’s tracker team is on the move for Luna, who apparently has fled Abra and sought refuge somewhere.

Magalong however did not confirm if there was a shoot-to-kill order on Luna as many believe he is considered "armed and dangerous", but only said that there are surrender feelers coming from Luna's camp.

On April 29, before his arrest warrant came out, Luna was said to have even led his townsfolk for the  flag ceremony in front of the town hall.

He was said to have been visibly agitated owing to the impending issuance of arrest warrant against him.

Luna said the arrest warrant was  “ill-timed, politically motivated and a handiwork of his political opponent.”

Meanwhile,  a Hold Departure Order against Luna is being readied by the Bureau of Immigration.

This, as police said the murder try on  Bernos’s aide, who was also a very close family friend, points to the tension-filled local political situation in the province.

As election-related violence in the province has gotten alarming up, more than 1,000 soldiers from the Army’s 5th Infantry Division were deployed in Abra amid reports of presence of private armed groups.

Col. Loreto Magundayao, chief of the 5th ID’s civilian-military operations battalion, said the troops in Abra were the biggest Army contingent sent by the 5th ID.

Magundayao said additional soldiers were also deployed in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

The deployment, he said, aims to thwart attempts by private armed groups, New People’s Army guerrillas and other lawless elements to disturb the elections. – With a report by Charlie Lagasca