Wanted Bangued mayor still at large

By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — As of press time, Ryan Luna the mayor of Abra’s capital town remains at large despite earlier pronouncements of Cordillera’s top cop General Benjamin Magalong that Luna will turn himself in before the elections.

During the weekly Kapihan last May 8, Magalong reiterated that he is in constant communication with the Lunas. However, the police has yet to arrest him. Earlier, Magalong said Luna will surrender before the May 13 polls.

Magalong further appealed to Bangued Regional Trial Court Judge Jaime Dujillo Jr. who issued the warrant against Luna and five others to return to office for the accused to have legal remedies.

Luna and the five others were charged with murder for the killing of then Tineg mayoralty bet Brenda Crisologo inside the canvassing area inside the Holy Spirit Academy campus in 2007.

In a video posted on Youtube a week after he went into hiding, Luna appeared and talked to his constituents claiming that he is still the mayor and the reopening of the case is but a grand conspiracy among Abra Governor Eustaquio Bersamin, Bangued Vice Mayor Allan Seares and Dominic Valera.

Bersamin is a long time political ally of the Lunas, Seares is his cousin and Valera is running against him for mayor this 2013.

Luna, in the said video claimed he is hiding because he is innocent and that he fears for his safety. He also claimed that the assumption of Seares as Bangued mayor is illegal.

Bersamin sworn in Seares as acting mayor last May 3 after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) opinion affirming that Luna can no longer properly carry out his official functions and as provided by the Local Government Code, Seares can assume office.

According to Magalong, Seares was adviced not to hold office at the Bangued mayor’s office to prevent clash with Luna supporters.

National daily reports say Luna supporters are barricading the Bangued mayor’s office. # nordis.net