Verzosa orders recall of Abra politicians' escorts

MANILA, Philippines - The police and military escorts of Bangued Mayor Dominic Valera and three other politicians in Abra were recalled yesterday to prevent retaliatory killings in the province.

Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Villamor Bumanlag ordered an investigation on reports that the police and military security escorts failed to act against “private armies” being maintained by Valera and the brothers Jendrix, Ryan and Cromwell Luna.

“The convoy comprising the private armies of politicians eluded arrest at checkpoints because of the presence of the security escorts who are helpless against them,” said Bumanlag quoting intelligence reports.

Under the guidelines of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), only two police or military personnel and two security guards were assigned as security escorts of politicians.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa ordered the relief and re-posting of police and military security escorts of politicians in Abra after witnesses pointed to Valera and his escort PO2 Joseph Barreras in the killing of Mario Acena, a driver of Ryan Luna in Barangay Cosili West, Bangued on Thursday.

Valera, along with the Luna brothers, Ryan and Jendrix are maintaining two police escorts while Cromwell has two Army escorts.

Ryan is seeking the mayoral post of Bangued against Valera, Jendrix is the incumbent mayor of Lagayan town, while Cromwell is running for mayor in Tineg town.

The Luna brothers are the sons of Abra Rep. Cecille Luna.

Bumanlag recommended to Verzosa that Valera and the Luna brothers not be granted security escorts anymore to prevent retaliatory killings in Abra.

The Cordillera police director’s recommendation came following the deployment of at least 700 police and military personnel to go hard after four politicians maintaining private armies in Abra.

“I recommended that these politicians would not be granted security escorts anymore so they will not be used as “absorbers” in police and Army checkpoints,” said Bumanlag in an interview.