What Went Before: The killing of Luis Bersamin Jr.

In 2011, the Court of Appeals cleared the way for the trial of former Abra Gov. Vicente Valera for the 2006 killing of his political rival, then Rep. Luis “Chito” Bersamin Jr.

The appellate court, in a decision promulgated on April 29, 2011, dismissed the petition of Valera, who questioned a Quezon City court’s ruling that found sufficient evidence to indict him for murder.

On Dec. 16, 2006, Bersamin attended his niece’s wedding at Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City, when he was gunned down by two men in front of the church. His bodyguard, Adelfo Ortega, was also killed in the attack while a 13-year-old boy and Allan Sawadan, Bersamin’s driver, were injured.

In February 2007, the police filed two counts of murder and frustrated murder in the Office of the Quezon City Prosecutor against Valera and seven other men for the killing of Bersamin.

In 2009, the Quezon City prosecutor formally charged Valera and two others with murder. In a six-page resolution dated March 17, 2009, Assistant City Prosecutor Gibson Araula Jr. recommended the filing of two counts of murder and two counts of frustrated murder against Valera, his close-in security, Sgt. Leo Bello and Jerry Turqueza.

Valera was implicated as the mastermind in the Bersamin murders by two suspects—Freddie Dupo and Sonny Taculao—who alleged that Valera wanted to kill his political rival in the 2007 polls.

Dupo and Taculao, who served as a guide to the gunman, confessed on separate occasions in 2007 and 2008 that Valera was the mastermind of the murder plot.

In an Aug. 10, 2009, order, the Quezon City court denied the motion of Valera to dismiss the murder charges. Judge Luisito Cortez also issued an arrest warrant against Valera and his coaccused, Turqueza and Bello. No bail was recommended.

On Sept. 1, 2009, Valera was arrested in a luxury apartment in Makati City after three years on the run. He was found at a condominium in the financial district after authorities received a tip about his whereabouts.–Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives