By ARTHA KIRA PAREDES
BANGUED, Abra.— Bangued Mayor Dominic Valera is under hospital arrest after he allegedly shot and killed a supporter of his political rival earlier today, the first recorded casualty of an election-related violent incident in the province.
Abra provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Ernesto Gaab said two witnesses pointed to Valera as the one who killed Mario Acena, 33, a follower of Ryan Luna who is Valera’s opponent for the post of mayor of Bangued.
Acena, Luna’s high school classmate, was allegedly killed by Valera while campaigning in Barangay Cosili West at 9:30 this morning. The victim was in charge of playing Luna’s campaign jingle and stayed inside the vehicle carrying the sound system.
According to Luna, Valera’s red plated vehicles sandwiched his military-type truck Thursday night, and then confronted Acena and another follower for loudly playing Luna’s campaign jingle in Barangay Zone 5 where Valera lives.
This morning, Valera allegedly went up to Acena and told him, “idi ka pay lang rabii (You’ve been doing that since last night). ” Valera then reportedly pulled out a .45 caliber pistol and shot Acena.
The shooting allegedly caused Valera’s blood pressure to shoot up, prompting his family to rush him to the Abra Provincial Hospital where he is being held by the police.
When reached for comment through his cellphone this morning, his daughter, Silvia Go, answered his phone and said her father could not yet give his side because they were “ambushed.” Valera is 62 years old.
His daughter, congressional candidate Ma. Jocelyn Bernos said she will call to give their side.
Gaab said Valera will be subjected to paraffin test.
Governor Eustaquio Bersamin, who also lost his brother, former Congressman Luis Bersamin, to political violence said that recently, “talaga nga sabsabali, awan metten ti respeto (so much has changed, there is no respect anymore).”
He said people do not trust the police anymore because they are one-sided.
Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian said the Bangued diocese plans to come up with a pastoral letter on election violence soon.
The Divine Word Bishop who also heads the Abra Multi-Sectoral Group (AMSG) said in a recent interview with Vera Files the AMSG is “for life” and for a “non-violent” election. The AMSG is composed of representatives from church, civil society, local government, police, army and line agencies of government.
Jaucian also said members of the group “are all working hand in hand to really promote what we call clean, honest, orderly, meaningful election,” as supported by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to visit Abra on Monday, May 3 for the inauguration of the Calaba Bridge that connects Bangued to Lagayan, Lapaz and Danglas towns.
The Abra Provincial Peace and Order Council is also scheduled to meet on May 5.