CA orders Valera murder trial to proceed

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered a Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) to proceed with the trial of former Abra governor Vicente Valera for the 2006 murder of his political rival, congressman Luis “Chito” Bersamin.

In a 19-page resolution, the CA’s 10th division dismissed Valera’s petition assailing a resolution of Quezon City RTC Branch 84 ordering his arrest and finding probable cause to indict him for the crime.

The CA also junked Valera’s claim that the trial should not push through since there were infirmities in the affidavits of prosecution witnesses, which he said should not be admissible. The CA told Valera to address these infirmities during the trial.

Valera, along with Jerry Turqueza and Sergeant Leo Bello Hall, was accused of killing Bersamin, brother of Supreme Court Justice Lucas Bersamin; and his driver-bodyguard, Senior Police Officer 1 Adelfo Ortega, at the Mount Carmel church in New Manila.

The Quezon City prosecutor’s office found probable cause to file murder and frustrated murder charges against Valera and his alleged accomplices.

Upon filing in court, the RTC immediately issued a warrant for the arrest of Valera and his co-accused. The accused appealed the resolution, but the trial court had stood by its decision.