Bersamin slay suspect turns down P2-M bribe

The camp of the alleged mastermind in the ambush-slay of Abra congressman Luis Bersamin had offered a P2-million bribe to one of the arrested suspects in exchange for not implicating their political master in the case.

However, former La Paz vice mayor Freddie Dupo politely turned down the offer, saying it is about time that Bersamin and his family get justice.

“I have wronged a lot of people and I want to put a stop to this,” Dupo told the emissary of the alleged mastermind. “This time I will try to correct and pay my dues to Bersamin and his family so justice would be served them.”

The emissary of the alleged mastermind was able to get near Dupo and his cousin, Sunny Taculao, both detained at the custodial center at Camp Crame, through a human rights lawyer early this month.

Pretending to verify whether Dupo and Taculao were being maltreated, the human rights lawyer managed to arrange a face-to-face meeting between the two and the alleged mastermind’s emissary.

A STAR source said it was at the height of the “interview” of the human rights lawyer when the emissary properly identified himself and revealed his P2-million offer.

When Dupo turned down the offer, the emissary said he would relay the former La Paz vice mayor’s decision to his political master.

Before leaving the jail, the emissary tried to give Dupo a phone number should he change his mind on the offer.

Dupo refused to accept the phone number, saying he was bent on revealing all about the killing of Bersamin and his police bodyguard, SPO1 Adelfo Ortega.

Bersamin and Ortega were gunned down in front of Mt. Carmel Church in Quezon City on Dec. 16, 2006.

Since the arrest of Dupo and Taculao in the mountains of Baras, Rizal months ago, the former La Paz vice mayor has revealed to investigators of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group who hatched the plan to kill Bersamin.

The STAR source at Camp Crame said Dupo would reveal the mastermind in Bersamin’s slay at the proper time.

Earlier, Dupo said he was willing to reveal all he knew about the Bersamin murder once the security of his family was taken care of.

Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin, brother of the slain congressman, promised not only to secure Dupo’s family, but also to shoulder the school expenses of his children.