Rival political families fuel Abra electoral race
“political families of old” are again figuring out against each other for the various provincial positions in Abra, portending rivalries might just turn bloody.
Re-elecionist lawmaker Joseph JB Bernos, Abra’s youngest congressman at 40, is facing again former Rep. Cecille SearesLuna like in the 2016 polls, minus now tourism undersecretary Marco Bautista, former San Juan town mayor, who had befriended the lawmaker, being both political allies of the Duterte administration.
“Our service to the people of Abra continues. Our job to propose policies that will uplift the lives and protect the welfare of every individual will not end,” the young lawmaker vowed. “The programs and projects we have initiated for the develAN
opment of Abra and the empowerment of all Abreños will not stop, he vowed. “We have laid the foundations for a prosperous Abra; we will see this through until the very end. We won’t stop here.”
Bernos filed his COC Tuesday noon with reelectionist Governor Ma. Jocelyn ValeraBernos, widow of his older brother Ysrael, assassinated in 2000 right in La Paz town plaza where he was then mayor. With them was re-electionist Bangued town mayor, Dominic Valera, father of the lady Governor.
Dolores town Mayor Roberto Seares Jr. , a very close ally of Pres. Duterte and PDPLaban’s provincial chairman in Abra, is challenging Gov. Valera-Bernos, though has not submitted his COC yet.
Interestingly, a third gubernatorial bet, former Abra Electric Cooperative (Abreco) general manager Loreto Seares Jr. , an erstwhile cousin of Mayor Seares Jr. and nephew of former Abra rep. Seares-Luna, also filed his COC against his cousin and Gov. Valera-Bernos in the gubernatorial race Tuesday morning.
Former Rep. Cecille Seares-Luna’s sons – Lagayan mayor Jendricks, Cromwell (a perennial Tineg town mayoral bet) and Ryan (former Bangued mayor) are said to have not given up politics as yet as all are running in next year’s midterm polls. Ryan, ousted as Bangued town mayor in 2012, wants to regain his old post in the capital town while Jendricks, who had been suspended for six months by Gov. Valera-Bernos, is still eyeing to retain his mayoral post in Lagayan.
Gov. Valera-Bernos’ father – incumbent Bangued Mayor Domonic Valera is seeking another term as the capital town’s mayor. The lady governor’s brother –Domino, Pidigan town’s vice mayor is running in the mayoral race against his erstwhile wife Jannsen, the town mayor.
Rep. Bernos’ wife -Menchie, mayor of La Paz town is also on another term as town mayor, while his sister Poyee is also on her another term as Danglas town mayor while his brother-in-law, Atty. Russel Bragas is running for a council seat in San Juan town.
The PNP earlier on considered Abra still as an area to be monitored in terms of intense political rivalries often resulting into bloodshed though in the past three elections, incidents have since died down compared to the bloody rivalries in the past that made Abra infamous.
Abra police director Sr. Supt. Wilson Soliba said it is normal that the province is among those being closely monitored by authorities given the history of Abra during elections. “That is what we are trying to change with everybody’s support,” the police official vowed.