Manhunt on for gunman of failed murder of Abra rep's aide

LA TRINIDAD,  Benguet  – Police  launched a manhunt for the lone gunman in Monday’s failed murder of a lady-aide of Abra Rep. Ma Jocelyn Valera-Bernos.

Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong named 20-year-old Ronald Jay Gavino, a resident of Zone 5 in Bangued, Abra’s capital town, as the gunman who failed to kill Iralee Beralde (who was earlier reported killed), a support staff of  Bernos in her district office in Abra.

Beralde, 42, was drinking with two other female friends  when Gavino on board a motorcycle sprung from nowhere and fired at the congressional staff at around 11:35 p.m/ Monday at Villamor Manzano St., Zone 5, Bangued.

The victim,  who sustained gunshot wounds on her right body and legs, is now being treated at the Abra provincial hospital.

It has yet to be determined if Gavino is a member of any gun-for-hire group or is in any way linked to rival politicians of  Bernos and her father. - Artemio A. Dumlao