Private armed group eyed in Abra ambush

Police are eyeing one of seven active private armed groups (PAGs) in Abra in last Friday’s ambush that left six supporters of a congressional bet dead and three others wounded.

The PAG responsible for the ambush of the followers of Mayor Cecille Luna of Lagayan town is believed allied with her political rival, incumbent Gov. Vicente Valera, reports reaching Camp Crame alleged.

Luna and Valera are pitted against each other in Abra’s lone congressional district.

A Camp Crame source, meanwhile, said they are checking if the ambushers, numbering about 15, have pending arrest warrants for criminal cases.

He added that probers are verifying reports that a group of armed men wearing fatigue uniforms were spotted in Tineg town two days before the ambush.

Luna has openly accused Valera as behind the ambush that killed Romero Guyang, president of Lagayan’s Association of Barangay Captains, and five others.

Valera, however, denied having a hand in the ambush. Earlier, Luna had filed charges against Valera for also allegedly attempting to assassinate her.

Prior to the May polls, the Task Force Abra has identified nine PAGs being maintained by politicians in the northern province. Two of them, however, were recently dismantled.

Of the seven remaining PAGs, four are allegedly allied with Valera, and the rest with groups opposing him, according to the reports to Camp Crame.

Luna was believed to be the target of at least 10 armed men who opened fire at her campaign vehicle, a silver Mitsubishi Pajero, while it was negotiating a road at the mountain boundary of Lagayan and Tineg towns at last Friday afternoon.

The Task Force Abra was formed to maintain peace and order in the province following the killing of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin in Quezon City last Dec. 16. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe