Abra gov. mayoralty bet supporter, granddaughter hurt in foiled ambush

May 11, 2019 Headlines

Bangued, Abra – A 59 year-old political supporter of Abra governor re-electionist Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos and her ally, Dolores mayoralty bet Engr. Conde Turqueza escaped death Thursday night after an alleged driver-bodyguard of a gubernatorial bet fired at their house Thursday night hurting him and his 7-year old granddaughter.
Police said carpenter Edito Tubadeza Espirito, 59, and his family were having dinner at around 9PM when driver Michael Galera, 23, from barangay Isit, also in that town, on board a motorcycle stopped in front of the house of Espiritu at barangay Bayaan, Dolores and began firing a weapon and fled.
Espiritu suffered two gunshot wounds on both legs and a bullet barely missed his granddaughter Evania Erika Princena with a slashed wound on her right upper cheek.
Galera is reportedly a driver-bodyguard of Dolores mayor and Abra gubernatorial bet Robert Seares Jr. and his brother – Dolores mayoralty bet Ronald Seares.
Mayor Seares Jr. though belied their driver was behind the Thursday night’s shooting incident, “It is not true, alam ng police yan.”
Dolores policemen are validating whether the incident is election-related but immediately, Abra governor Bernos begged at policemen and soldiers stationed in Abra “to protect every Abrenio kahit ano man ang sinusuportahan nilang kandidato.”
She also pleaded before her province-mates to be vigilant at all times and also urged all candidates vying for top positions and local positions in her province to “let us not use violence to win… let the people decide who they want to lead their communities best.”
Abra lawmaker Joseph Sto. Nino Bernos, brother-in-law of Gov. Valera-Bernos and her teammate in the local political party Asenso allied with the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HnP) while condemning the latest violence on their supporter said, “we will not be provoked into retaliating. Violence begets violence and Abra has no more place for such senselessness.”

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN