Raps filed against mayor, vice mayor and bodyguards in connection with shooting incident at checkpoint in Abra
BANGUED, Abra - Corresponding cases have been filed against the Mayor and Vice Mayor of Pilar, Abra, including their bodyguards in connection with the shooting incident that took place after they escaped the police checkpoint on March 29.
A case of violation of Republic Act 9208 as amended by RA 10364 or the Expanded Trafficking in Person Act was filed in the Prosecutor's Office on April 6 against Mayor Mark Roland Somera and his sister Vice-Mayor Jaja Josefina Somera-Disono, of Pilar, Abra, in connection with the surrender of 12 former military men whom they employed as personal security aids after a stand-off at the Somera/Disono family compound.
A case of violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code or 'Serious Disobedience of Lawful Orders of Agent of Person in Authority was filed against Jericho Toreno Bufil, Robert Boreta Toreno, Emmanuel Nicanor Valera and Sandee Boy Bermudo who were in a van that ignored the police checkpoint.
A case of Multiple Attempted Murder was also filed against Bufil who allegedly fired a gun while police personnel were pursuing them.
Col. Maly Cula, acting provincial director of the Abra Provincial Police Office said that they are still preparing a case in violation of RA 7166 in relation to Batas Pambansa 881 or 'Unauthorized Employment of bodyguards/security aids against’ Somera and Disono and additional case of violation of Comelec gun ban against the Vice Mayor.
According to Cula, the gun recovered by the Scene of the Crime Operation team inside the getaway vehicle that underwent the GunPowder Residue Test (GPRT) was positive for Gun Powder Residue (GPR).
Meanwhile, BGen. Ronal Oliver Lee, regional director of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera, ordered that the checkpoint be tightened even more as the May 9 election approaches in the region, especially in Abra.
In his instruction to his men, Lee told them to increase and tighten the conduct of checkpoints.
“For the inconveniences that travelers or motorists will experience, just explain well the purpose of the Comelec checkpoint that you are doing. What happened in Pilar, Abra should be a lesson to politicians who break the law,” said Lee.