Abra town mayor, pa cleared of murder raps

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – State prosecutors in La Union dismissed the murder raps filed by the National Bureau of Investigation-Cordillera against La Paz town mayor Joseph Sto Nino Bernos and his father, Danglas town vice mayor Andres Bernos.

Finding insufficient evidence to support the confession of an alleged gunman-killer, La Union acting provincial prosecutor Crispin Navalta Jr.,  who was assigned by the Regional State Prosecution Service after the NBI sought the inhibition of Abra state prosecutors,  found confessed gunman Jacobo Badua as respondent  for the murders.

Badua said that he was ordered by the Bernoses to commit a number of murders.

Navalta,  in his resolution said, “no other evidence has been presented or submitted (by the NBI-Cordillera) to corroborate the accusation of Badua against the (Bernoses)," adding that conspiracy was not proven even with the admission of the self-confessed killer.

Badua, who is still being kept by authorities earlier narrated to the NBI how Mayor Bernos and vice mayor Bernos ordered him to kill at least two villagers and seeing how another assassin gunned down another also upon the father-son tandem.

The Bernoses  have earlier dismissed Badua’s confession as part of a smear campaign of their political rivals.

Navalta  however said the NBI relied solely on the confession of Badua and failed to submit evidence to support the latter's statement.

Navalta's ruling was issued on September 11, 2013, two days after he was assigned by the Regional State Prosecution service to conduct an investigation on the raps. - Artemio A. Dumlao