Abra cops seek bombers from fireworks spectators

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET—Police are looking for the bomb throwers from the crowd that gathered to watch the fireworks display at the end of the merrymaking at La Paz town in Abra province early Thursday, investigators said on Friday.

Two policemen were killed and close to 25 people, including the Abra congressman and the La Paz mayor, were hurt in the blast.

A police investigation task force has not yet determined the identities nor motive of the suspects, according to Chief Insp. Carol Lacuata, Cordillera police spokesperson.

Lacuata also said the police had not yet established whether the attack was politically motivated or was undertaken by criminals. Abra used to be notorious for political violence during elections perpetrated by armed men hired by political clans.

‘Personal attack’

Abra Rep. Joseph Bernos and his wife, La Paz Mayor Menchie Bernos, were among those hurt when two grenades were thrown during a fireworks display at the town center.

In a statement, Bernos said the blast was a “deeply personal attack against me, my family and my mandate.”

“The perpetrators—whoever they are—disrupted the reign of long-standing peace and order in our province. I am enraged that you threatened me and my wife with two explosives, but you cannot bring us down in a time when the people are seeing and feeling the gradual progress and development in Abra,” he said.

He added: “To those who are behind this attack, I only have to say this: You will not benefit nor prosper. The terror and discord you have sown will yield nothing for your vested interest.”

His older brother, former La Paz Mayor Marc Ysrael Bernos, was shot and killed while watching a basketball game on Jan. 13, 2006.

Sports meet

PO3 Carlos Bocaig, who survived the Mamasapano incident where 44 commandos of the Special Action Force were killed on Jan. 25 three years ago, and PO2 Frenzel Kitoyan, were the fatalities in the early Thursday explosion. Three other policemen were wounded.

Each of their families received P71,000 from their Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund, while the three other police officers were each given P20,000 in financial assistance.

In spite of the attack, the sports meet of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association to be hosted by Abra will proceed on Feb. 4 to 9, with tighter security.

The sports meet will be keynoted by Director General Ronald dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police. It is expected to draw 7,000 grade school and high school athletes and their coaches from Baguio City and six Cordillera provinces. —KARLSTON LAPNITEN AND VINCE F. NONATO