Bersamins won't settle with slay suspects

MANILA, Philippines - The family of slain Abra congressman Luis Bersamin vowed yesterday there will be no amicable settlement with former Abra governor Vicente Isidro Valera and others accused of murdering him.

“We will never entertain any out of court settlement. We will let the wheels of justice take its course,” said Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin, a younger brother of the victim.

Since Valera; his former Army bodyguard, Sgt. Leo Bello; and Jerry Turqueza were charged for the elder Bersamin’s murder before the Quezon City regional trial court (RTC), the incumbent Abra governor said Valera has not approached them for a settlement.

“He knows that we will not talk to him about any amicable settlement,” he said.

Valera has denied involvement in Bersamin’s murder, saying he and the slain politician were cousins.

As to Valera’s surrender feelers, Bersamin said the former Abra governor should do so “to answer (for) the evil deeds he had done.”

Bersamin said his family trusts Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa and his men.

“We have complete trust in our police as they are working hard to solve the case of my brother,” said Bersamin.

On Aug. 10, Quezon City RTC Branch 84 Judge Luisito Cortez ordered the arrest of Valera, Bello and Turqueza for the murder of Bersamin and his security aide, Senior Police Officer 1 Adelfo Ortega, in front of Mt. Carmel Church in Quezon City on Dec. 16, 2006.

The Bersamin family offered a P250,000 reward for information leading to Valera’s capture and another P100,000 for Bello’s arrest.

Reports reaching Verzosa state that Valera is working for his surrender before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina said in a radio interview that they believe Valera is still in the country because he is the subject of a hold departure order issued by the court.

The PNP has formed a tracker team against Valera, who is said to have shelled out P5 million to kill Bersamin, considered his closest political rival in the May 2007 polls.

Bersamin declared his intention to run for governor but Valera, who was then on his last term, was reportedly fielding his wife for the post. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe