Abra gov calls for end to political killings

Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin called yesterday for an end to political killings as he urged Abrenians to rally behind the police effort to make their province peaceful “for economic development to come in.”

Bersamin admitted that the retaliatory political killings in the past years not only earned Abra the tag as the “murder capital” of the country but also stagnated its economic growth.

“I’m appealing to Abrenians that instead of sowing intrigues among each other, let us set aside politics and rally behind our police forces for peace to reign in our province so development would come in,” he said.

At least six political figures, including former Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) chairman Conrado Balweg, La Paz town mayor Israel Mark Bernos and Abra congressman Luis Bersamin, the governor’s brother, were killed in ambuscades.

The killings of Rep. Bersamin and Bernos are nearing solution following the arrest of some suspects.

Gov. Bersamin said the police are doing their best to erase the “murder capital” tag of the province. “The crime rate in Abra is presently at its lowest. It is now time for us to join hands to push for economic development in our beloved neglected province,” he said. “There are no more ambuscades or face-to-face killings.”

The governor commended the police for the speedy solution to the explosion that rocked the house of Abra Rep. Cecille Luna on Christmas Day that resulted in injuries to her three sons and four other people.

Police investigators declared that the explosion was caused by a firecracker blast and not an attack on the Luna family.

“Speculation and tension in the province died down because of the speedy and satisfactory police investigation into the Luna incident,” said Bersamin as he commended the leadership of Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. for his programs and projects that significantly helped maintain peace in Abra.

Bersamin said he is now focusing his efforts on improving roads and bridges that connect upland towns neglected by the previous administrations. 

He is eyeing the construction of farm-to-market roads to help farmers sell their produce.

The governor is also initiating moves to bring electricity to far-flung barangays.

According to Bersamin, he, too, is talking to a foreign investor for a multimillion-peso project on the dredging of the river in Abra to solve the perennial problem of flooding that has prevented residents of upland towns from going to the capital town of Bangued faster.

“While the police are doing there job, the provincial government is doing its share by initiating projects that would greatly help improve the lives of Abrenians,” he said.