Ex-Abra gov linked to Bersamin killing falls

A former governor wanted for the killing of his political rival in December 2006 was arrested in his condominium in Makati City Tuesday night, a television report said. GMA News' Unang Balita reported Wednesday that operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Task Force Bravo arrested former Abra governor Vicente Valera at the Hidalgo Tower in Makati City at 10 p.m. Tuesday. By early dawn Wednesday, Valera was brought to the office of PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa at Camp Crame in Quezon City, the same report said. Valera was charged for the assassination of his political rival, former Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin, in Quezon City in December 2006. Gunmen who shot Bersamin had tagged Valera as the mastermind in the Dec. 20, 2006 killing. But in an interview at Camp Crame, Valera denied any involvement in the crime: "I hope justice will be served rightfully... I am innocent of the crime." Before he was brought to his detention cell, he underwent a medical checkup after he complained of having breathing difficulty.

Meanwhile, Valera's lawyer Rolando Quimbo denied that his client had been hiding from the authorities. "Nandito lang siya. Hindi tama ang mga sinasabing nagtatago ang kliyente ko. Perception lang yon (There is no truth to claims that my client was hiding)," Quimbo said. Quimbo said Valera's camp would file a motion for reconsideration. But the Unang Balita report said the former governor would stay in detention for the meantime. The Bersamin family had offered a P250,000 reward for the capture of Valera and P100,000 to his aide, ex-Army Sgt. Leo Bello. - GMANews.TV