Bloodshed before Abra peace covenant signing

CAMP VILLAMOR, Abra — The executive secretary of the municipal mayor of La Paz town was gunned down by an unknown assailant on the eve of Saturday’s peace covenant for the 8th Abra Week for Peace in Bangued, Abra, police confirmed yesterday.

Police said Noel Palos Belena, 61, executive secretary of La Paz Mayor Joseph “JV” Bernos, was riding his black Honda Bravo motorcycle along the La Paz-Lagayan Road in La Paz on his way home around 11 p.m. last Friday when he was shot in the back.

Jerry Bolante and Jetrick Casel who were on board a tricycle passed by the victim and slumped on the road and took him to the Abra Provincial Hospital.

However, Belena was pronounced dead on arrival by doctors who received him.

Mayor Bernos, who is seeking a congressional seat in next year’s elections, said the killing of his trusted man could have been politically-motivated.

But investigation cited by Sr. Supt. Antonio Bartolome, Abra Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, pointed to a misunderstanding between Belena and another person at the cockpit arena where he had come from prior to the shooting as the likely motive in his killing.

“Huwag sana gawing pulitika ang insidenteng ito, dahil malaki ang aming paniwala na personal grudge ang motibo sa pamamaslang (Let’s not make this incident a political one, because we strongly believe the motive in this killing is personal grudge),” said Bartolome.

He said probers are also looking for a former policeman facing robbery cases in Pasig City, Metro Manila, who had a spat with Belena.

At Saturday’s signing of the peace covenant among politicians in Abra, Chief Superintendent Ulysses Abellera, Police Regional Office-Cordillera director, said he was deeply saddened by the incident.

Abellera then posed a challenge to all politicians, especially those running for elective posts in May, 2016: “I challenge you to place in your heart the peace that we are doing right now and let’s continue peaceful election for the progressive development of Abra.” (With a report from Freddie G. Lazaro)