Bersamin slay suspect arraigned today

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City judge set the arraignment today of one of the primary suspects in the murder of Abra congressman Luis Bersamin in 2006.

Judge Luisito Cortez also junked a motion to quash charges against Rufino Panday, according to clerk of court Mary Ann Plata-Daytia.

State Prosecutor Ferdinand Baylon said the judge apparently gave greater weight to the argument of the prosecution on the involvement of Panday, who was among the first suspects to be arrested.

In filing his motion to quash charges against him, Panday said he made his initial confession while under duress and he was tortured into admitting his participation into the crime.

But the judge ruled that probable cause was sufficiently established by other evidence even without the confession.

Panday, a former Army sergeant, implicated Freddie Dupo, Sonny Taculao and former constable Salvador Barbosa in Bersamin’s murder.

Panday said Dupo had told him then Abra governor Vicente Valera allegedly provided P5 million to kill Bersamin, who expressed his intention to run for governor in 2007. Valera is now the subject of a warrant of arrest.

Panday later retracted his confession but police have physical evidence that he was the one who purchased the getaway motorcycle that was recovered hours after Bersamin and his security escort, Senior Police Officer 1 Adelfo Ortega, were shot dead.

Panday said Valera allegedly first gave them P500,000 for the job and that he got P100,000 as an initial share for acting as the lookout and for buying the getaway vehicle.

Valera has denied having masterminded the killing of Bersamin. – Cecille Suerte Felipe