Cordillera top cop assures hunt for ex-Mayor Luna still on

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - The Cordillera police on Wednesday vowed to continue the manhunt against Bangued ex-town mayor Ryann Luna, who is facing murder charges over a 2007 poll-related killing.

"The hunt goes on until we fulfill our task of bringing him to justice," said Cordillera regional police director Chief Superintendent Isagani Nerez at a press conference.

The former mayor has been tagged as a "priority target" of the Cordillera regional police after the Department of Justice recommended the filing of murder charges against him in connection with the killing of Brenda Crisologo, the late wife of incumbent Tineg town Mayor Edwin Crisologo, and five other victims.

Crisolo was shot dead while watching the canvassing of votes at the Holy Spirit Academy in Banguet town on May 17, 2007.

Luna had been excluded from the list of respondents to the murder charge, but last year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) approved a petition for review of the Crisologo clan and ordered on April 2013 the charging of murder case against the former mayor.

Luna, who was then running for mayor, went into hiding after the DOJ's decision. There were alleged surrender feelers but the former mayor remains at large.

In a statement, the former mayor had denied that he is in hiding and claimed innocense from the Crisologo killing.