Bersamin murder: Half million peso bounty

BY MIKE GUIMBATAN JR. AND DEXTER SEE

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet—Friends and relatives of slain Abra Rep. Luis “Chito” Bersamin Jr. are offering another half million peso-bounty to anyone who can give information for the arrest of Jerry Turqueza, last of the four prime suspects identified by police.

This, as a former mayor and a brother of a former congressional candidate were allegedly linked to the murder by Freddie Dupo, one of the prime suspects and link of the group to the alleged mastermind. Police recently arrested suspects Freddie Dupo and Sunny Taculao while the third suspect Salvador Baroza, reportedly died of sickness in a hospital in Tondo, Manila.

“Wanting that the dastardly act be solved, they are offering to give half a million reward to who ever will be able to provide information that will lead to the arrest of Jerry Turqueza, allegedly one of the gunmen in the assassination," said regional police director Chief Supt. Eugene Martin. Martin said Turqueza is allegedly being hidden by a politician in a remote mountain Abra town.

Turqueza is also involved in several other murder cases, and was in fact identified as a prime suspect in the killing of La Paz Mayor Ysrael Marc Bernos in 2005. The official added Dupo and Taculao confessed that a former rebel leader and a brother of one of Abra’s congressional candidates as those who contacted them to carry out the assassination.

A P1.5 million cash reward was earlier offered by relatives and friends of Bersamin which led to the arrest of the two suspects. For the last suspect, friends and relatives are again offering a P500,000 reward to whoever will be able to provide information that will lead to the arrest of the remaining prime suspect who is at large, particularly Jerry Turqueza, who was identified during investigation as one of the gunmen in the killing of the late Abra congressman.

Bersamin was gunned down outside a Quezon City church in Dec. 16. Police said politics was the reason for the ambush. Charry Bersamin, daughter of the slain lawmaker, earlier appealed to Dupo and Taculao to help police authorities in investigating the case by identifying the mastermind.

She said the P1.5 million cash reward raised by her family and friends will be given to those who were instrumental in the arrest of the two suspects. During an evaluation at the regional police headquarters here on progress of the investigation by Task Force Bersamin, it was bared that relatives and friends of the late solon are offering P250,000 each for a total of P500,000 to whoever will be able to provide information that may lead to the arrest of Turqueza.

Investigation on the case revealed that Turqueza was involved in other murder cases. He was identified as a prime suspect in the killing of a La Paz mayor some years back. Tracker team Bersamin, dedicated solely to conduct manhunt against the remaining suspects, was organized by the regional police director Chief Supt. Eugene Martin.

This, as Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin, brother of the slain lawmaker, expressed full support to the ongoing investigation of the celebration political violence in the province. The Abra governor expressed his gratitude to PNP chief, Director-General Avelino Razon, Jr. and Martin for their efforts that led to the arrest of the two prime suspects in the killing of his late brother. Bersamin said those behind the brutal murder of his brother and police escort will be uncovered and be brought to justice in the coming days.