ABRA

New gov, brod of slain solon vows Abra peace

BANGUED, Abra – “I am to serve you, not you serving me.”

Eustaquio “Tacit” Purugganan Bersamin, newly installed governor of Abra, made this statement as he renewed his commitments during his campaign for the gubernatorial post last elections.

Bersamin, with all winning provincial and municipal officials, held their mass oath-taking at the provincial capitol’s atrium on June 30 with Justice Lucas P. Bersamin of the Court of Appeals as the administering officer and guest speaker.

Before the oath taking, a thanksgiving mass was held in the St. James the Elder Cathedral by Abra’s newly installed bishop, Most Rev. Laopoldo Jaucian, SVD, DD.

The new governor laid out the programs of his three-term administration, foremost of which is the restoration of peace and order in a bid to cleanse Abra’s embarrassing name tag as the “killing capital” in the Cordillera Region.

His elder brother, Rep. Luis ‘Chito’ Bersamin was a victim of the political violence that has long plagued Abra.

The Bersamin brothers vowed to get to the bottom of all the killings here as they said this is a way by which the province can contribute to the nation’s effort of ensuring the sustainability of economic growth.

On his campaign slogan “Bangon, Abra” which literally means “Get Up, Abra,” newly installed governor vowed to undertake programs that would promote agricultural production to help improve the living conditions of the farmers.

Bersamin said he also give importance to the strengthening of the diverse cultures of the Ilocanos and Tingguians, continue the unfinished business of his late solon-brother to develop the basic physical and social infrastructures vital for Abra’s economic growth and stability.

The goal, he said, is to bring back the trust and confidence of the people in the political leadership of the province.