PNP probes slay of Abra mayor’s aide

Shot before Abra peace pact signing 

BANGUED, Abra — Police are now trying to establish identity of assailants who shot dead night of Dec. 4 the executive secretary of the municipal mayor of La Paz town few hours before signing of peace covenant among politicians dubbed “8th Abra Week for Peace” here, police said.

Police said Noel Palos Belena, 61, executive secretary of La Paz Mayor Joseph “JV” Bernos, was riding his black Honda Bravo motorcycle along the La Paz-Lagayan Road in La Paz on his way home around 11 p.m. Dec. 4 when he was shot in the back.

Jerry Bolante and Jetrick Casel who were on board a tricycle passed by the victim slumped on the road and took him to the Abra Provincial Hospital.

However, Belena was pronounced dead on arrival by doctors who received him.

Mayor Bernos, who is seeking a congressional seat in next year’s elections, said the killing of his trusted man could have been politically-motivated.

But Supt. Antonio Bartolome, Abra Police provincial office director, said misunderstanding between Belena and another person at the cockpit arena where he had come from prior to the shooting was the likely motive in his killing.

“Huwag sana gawing pulitika ang  insidenteng ito, dahil malaki ang aming paniwalana personal grudge ang motibo sa pamamaslang (Let’s not make this incident a political one, because we strongly believe the motive in this killing is personal grudge),” said Bartolome.

He said probers are also looking for a former policeman facing robbery cases in Pasig City, Metro Manila, who had a spat with Belena.

Bur Bernos said Belena had no known enemy, adding the victim was active in local politics.

Bernos appealed to authorities to immediately solve the killing, noting it occurred in the wake of the signing of the supposed peace covenant.

Abra had been the scene of violent killings mostly related to politics. For a while, killings stopped during the time of then Cordillera police director Benjamin Magalong who is now national head of the Criminal Investigation Detection Group.

The new leadership of Cordillera police under Chief Supt. Ulysses Abellera is now addressing the killing of Belena which political observers here said could increase if this is not solved soon. 

At Saturday’s signing of the peace covenant among politicians in Abra, Abellera said he was deeply saddened by the incident.

Abellera then posed a challenge to all politicians, especially those running for elective posts in May, 2016: “I challenge you to place in your heart the peace that we are doing right now and let’s continue peaceful election for the progressive development of Abra.” -- With a report from Freddie G. Lazaro