Valera a no-show in HDO court hearing

Abra Gov. Vicente Valera may find himself restricted in his movements after his failure to appear before the court yesterday to answer the government petition for a hold-departure order (HDO).

Prosecutors said Valera’s failure to appear before Quezon City Branch 224 Judge Emilio Leachon might result in the issuance of an HDO to insure his appearance for the illegal possession of firearms and explosives filed against him.

State Prosecutor Romeo Senson said they filed a motion before the Quezon City court for an HDO upon police intelligence reports that the Abra governor will leave the country to escape possible prosecution over the assassination of Rep. Luis Bersamin and his police bodyguard last month.

Valera has been linked as the alleged mastermind in the killing. He denied the accusations.

Senson said the Traffic Management Group (TMG) gathered an intelligence report indicating Valera plans to leave abroad for good.

Senson explained an HDO would later require Valera to submit himself before the courts and get permission before leaving the country.

"We filed the motion for the issuance of a HDO after the TMG filed a request for the issuance of HDO against Gov. Valera. We attached the TMG’s request to our motion," Senson said.

Valera’s defense counsel, Pablito Gahol said he will not question the motion for HDO since the governor has no plans to leave the country.

The governor was accosted by TMG operatives in Quezon City last Dec. 29 for driving a vehicle without license plates.

Valera was on board a silver Chevrolet Suburvan with his three armed bodyguards when he was accosted by TMG agents who noticed the vehicle had a siren.

Police later seized several firearms from Valera and his bodyguards which included an MP5 submachine gun and six .45 caliber automatics.

Valera posted a P310,000 bail and set to be arraigned on Jan. 22 for illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges.

One of the suspects earlier arrested in the killing of Bersamin has implicated Valera in the assassination, claiming the governor funded the P5-million contract for the lawmaker’s assassination.

Rufino Palope Panday, a retired sergeant of the defunct Philippine Constabulary, admitted participating in Bersamin’s murder as a lookout and gave detailed information on how they planned to carry out the assassination.

Panday claimed to have been told by his cohorts that Valera himself funded the assassination of Bersamin at P5 million.

The Quezon City Police District, meanwhile, has opposed the plan to transfer Panday from the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal to the Quezon City Jail.

QCPD chief Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula said the Quezon City Jail could not assure the safety of Panday.

Investigators are eyeing to utilize Panday as a possible state witness in the murder but no evidence has yet been gathered directly linking Valera to the murder. — With Jose Rodel Clapano