Abra is still ‘killing fields’ due to politics

By Mar T. Supnad

BANGUED, Abra- Like in previous electoral exercises wherein this province gained its notoriety as “killing fields,” Abrenos are still living in fear brought about by the existence of Private Armed Goons (PAGs) maintained by warring politicians in this impoverished province.

Television footage showed by giant television Channel 7 is the proof that the PAGs in Abra still exist and alarming, contrary to the claim of the Philippine National Police and the Army that PAGs in Abra had been crushed.

One politician alone, thev said, maintains more than a hundred armed men with M203 rifle grenades, M14, M16 armalite rifles and other top caliber guns. “In just one order of our boss, we can launch an attack to whoever he (politician) wants us to shoot; we are more than 100 members armed with heavy firearms,” said one of the armed men interviewed.

It was not mentioned in the television program who this politician was. But the way the tension is in Abra, it is only the groups of Rep. Cecile Luna and Bangued Mayor Dominic Valera who appeared to be most capable of organizing such men in the province with the detention of former governor Vicente Valera.Former Governor Valera was facing double murder charges in connection with the killing of congressman Chito Bersamin and his policeman aide few years ago.

When Vicente Valera was apprehended and jailed, police claimed then that Abra’s image as the most troubled province during election was already a thing of the past since they claimed, it was only he (Vicente Valera) who had the capability to mobilize and maintain PAGs.

But this was contrary to what is being happening now since the former governor was jailed and Abra is still a trouble province whose records of unsolved political killings have remained a headache of the PNP up to now.

“Di naman ganyan karami ang mga PAGs dito kung meron man,” said Senior Supt. Ernesto Gaab, Abra police director, told this writer. Rep. Luna is seeking reelection while her son Ryan Luna is running for mayor in this capital town, facing reelectionist Dominic Valera who was accused of shooting to death April 29 a driver of Ryan. Valera is now being guarded by the police in a hospital in Manila due to hypertension, said Gaab.

The Lunas accused Valera of maintaining PAGs, the same accusation being hurled by Dominic’s group. Jocelyn Valera Bernos, daughter of Dominic is challenging Luna in the congressional seat, which is a three-cornered fight with the entry of Ching Valera, wife of detained former governor Vicente Valera.

Ching, however, remains silent on the campaign that described by observers as the “main beneficiary” in the destructive “word war” between Luna’s and Jocelyn’s camp.

“Nakakatakot na naman talaga dito sa Abra, biglang bigla na lang kami nakakarining na may binaril; hindi namin alam kung sino talaga ang tama sa kanila,” said a physician who blamed the police and the military for allegedly doing nothing to go after the armed goons of the warring candidates in the province.