PNP charges ex-Abra Governor, at least five others in killing of Cong. Bersamin

By Ronron
February 19, 2008

Police filed on Tuesday afternoon double murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against former Abra Governor Vicente Valera and at least five other persons for the killing of former Abra Congressman Luis Bersamin, Jr. in December 2006 in Quezon City.

The charges were filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office at around 2pm, and named as respondents were Valera, Leo Bello (Valera’s chief security officer), Jerry Turqueza, alias Jun, Jeff-jeff, Mel, and other John Does.

Sr. Supt. Benjamin de los Santos, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Legal Service, said the cases were filed after suspects Freddie Dupo and Sonny Taculao, who have been arrested in October 2007 in Rizal, confessed while in detention that Valera is the mastermind.

Bersamin and his security-bodyguard, SPO1 Adelfo Ortega, were killed after being shot at the Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City on December 16, 2006. Injured in the incident were Allan Sawadan (bodyguard/driver) and Rolly Labaja (civilian bystander).

“In a signed confession by the two detainees (Dupo and Taculao), duly assisted by their counsels of choice, Attys. Howard Areza and Demiteer Huerta, ex-Governor Varela was tagged as the mastermind who gave orders and money for the assassination of his political rival, the late Cong. Luis ‘Chito’ Bersamin,” said de los Santos.

De los Santos said Dupo and Taculao were supposedly “stricken by their conscience,” thus the confession implicating Varela in December 2007 and last month.

Dupo allegedly claimed meeting with Valera in the latter part of November or early December 2006 where the former Governor uttered the following in Ilocano: “Kailangan na mawala si Chito sa aking daan. Si Congressman, kailangan na siyang mamatay. (Chito has to be taken out of my way. The Congressman should be dead.)”

Dupo said it was Bello who allegedly gave him money while he and Taculao were in hiding in Rizal. The payments amounted to P15,000, P10,000 and P25,000, given on separate occasions.

Dupo also alleged that the triggerman was Turqueza while alias Jun, who is allegedly a New People’s Army (NPA) personality, co-masterminded the plot.

Taculao corroborated Dupo’s claims, saying that it was Turqueza who really shot at Bersamin and Ortega, said De los Santos.

It was Taculao who then boarded a motorbike and drove off to N. Domingo corner Aurora Avenues in Cubao to escape.

De los Santos said a cartographic sketch of the gunman actually matched Turqueza’s profile, said Dupo and Taculao.

De los Santos said Dupo and Taculao only claimed to serving as guides to Turqueza and other members of the assassination team since they are more familiar with the place.

The PNP had earlier said that Dupo’s participation is limited on the recruitment of other suspects, including Taculao, for the execution of the plot. Dupo is a former Vice Mayor of La Paz in Abra.

Another suspect, former Army Sergeant Rufino Panday who was arrested days after the shooting incident, had earlier claimed that Dupo was indeed a recruiter in the kill plot, while the a certain Dominador Barbosa acted as the gunman. Barbosa, however, was killed when policemen tried to arrest him.

Panday also alleged then that Taculao served as the driver of the getaway motorcycle in the incident.

With the confession of Dupo and Taculao, police have recommended for their conversion to state witnesses and coverage of the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice.

If the recommendation is approved, the charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder against them will effectively be dropped, said de los Santos.

The Quezon City Police will start running after the suspects, including Varela, if an arrest warrant will be released against them by the courts.

Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa, deputy chief for Administration of the Philippine National Police, said that as far as he knows, Varela spends most of his time in his house in Quezon City, and visits his home sometimes in Bangued town.

Among those charged Tuesday, no one is still under police custody, said de los Santos.

So far, only Dupo, Taculao, and Panday are detained at the PNP Custodial Center inside Camp Crame.

Asked how she feels with the charging of case against Varela, which she had long suspected to be the real mastermind in the killing of her father, Charito Bersamin said: “We’re very happy and sad because I will have to go through what happened again.”

She said the confession of Dupo and Taculao vindicated her in her allegation against Varela.

She thanked the PNP for their efforts and hoped that Varela will face the charges against him.

“My father is well-loved by the Abreños, no one would plan to hurt him or our family,” the young Bersamin said./DMS