Valera appeals to Calderon to release his guns

Citing threats to his life and his family, Abra Gov. Vicente "Vicsyd" Valera, the prime suspect in the assassination of Abra Rep. Luis "Chito" Bersamin, has asked Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Calderon to allow him to use licensed guns.

In a letter to Calderon, Valera said he and his family have been receiving death threats since the Bersamin slay on Dec. 16 last year.

He said that although his guns are licensed and properly documented, these firearms were all confiscated by the police.

Valera and his bodyguards were arrested at a checkpoint by Task Force Limbas of the Traffic Management Group in Quezon City for driving a Chevrolet Suburban sports utility vehicle (SUV) without license plates.

Valera, who spent the New Year detained at the Camp Crame Custodial Center, posted a P310,000 bail bond.

"The threats to my life and my family are real, but we cannot even defend ourselves if someone attacks us," Valera said.

His supporters in Abra said that if something happens to Valera, they will blame the PNP for stripping the governor of his guns.

Valera is the prime suspect in the Bersamin slay after an alleged lookout identified as Rufino Panday told investigators that Valera paid him and his cohorts P5 million to plan the assassination. Panday is now in police custody.

However, Valera has vehemently denied Panday’s claims and even the police cannot pin the governor down yet.

Former La Paz, Abra vice mayor Freddie Dupo earlier called radio station dzVV and denied any participation in Bersamin slay and cleared Valera of involvement in the crime.

Dupo was among the people Panday identified as involved in the plot to kill Bersamin. — Myds Supnad