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Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Abra cops told to end killings
CAMP DANGWA, BENGUET -- Chief Supt. Victor Luga, director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordilleras (PRO-CAR), ordered the Abra police Monday to immediately end the series of killings in the province before violence further escalates.
Luga's order came in the wake of the killing of a barangay chief in Bangued, Abra over the weekend and the recent murder of three officials of the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) in Manabo, also in Abra.
In a press conference, Luga said the Abra Provincial Police Office has not yet arrested even one suspect with regard to the two incidents.
He, however, assured the families of the victims that intensified manhunt operations are ongoing in a bid to cause the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and put them behind bars.
"Investigation is also ongoing to determine if the death of the barangay captain was politically-motivated," Luga stressed.
Barangay Chief Nestor Belisario of Zone 6, Bangued, Abra was shot at close range by still unidentified young armed men while he was buying in a merchandise store.
Belisario was known as one of the trusted men of Gov. Vicente Valera, a known political kingpin in the province.
Belisario was the third Abra politician to be killed in less than two years after former mayors Jose Segundo of Tubo and Clarence Benwaren of Tineg were also shot dead.
On the killings of the three CPLA men, Luga said his office is closely coordinating with the CPLA officials, led by Mayor Mailed Molina of Bucloc, Abra to ask CPLA cadres not to resort to violence amid ongoing differences between the Molina and Conrado Balweg factions.
He added Cordillera police are always ready to disarm any member of the CPLA found carrying undocumented firearms.
Luga admitted some CPLA members are holders of loose firearms. HFP
(August 19, 2003 issue)
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