COPS, ABRA GOONS NEARLY CLASHED

March 29, 2025 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY

An almost bloody encounter between Abra policemen and alleged goons of a huge political clan in Pidigan, Abra Thursday afternoon, portends things to come in the peace-challenged Abra province, wrought by almost a dozen gun-related violence since mid-February. Abra policemen who responded to a request from suspended Pidigan mayor Joseph Domino A. Valera for the latter’s group’s political gathering sorty noticed armed men in front of the ‘Rancho 88’ compound of the suspended mayor at barangay Pangtud. At around 1:55 PM Thursday, March 27, 2025, while policemen led by acting town police chief Major Jushua Mateonoticed the convoy of Pidigan mayoralty candidate Artemio Donato Jr. at the market at sitio Nagsangalan, Poblacion, East Pidigan, Abra purchasing supplies, then proceeded to the Municipal Hall at Poblacion West, Pidigan.

But apparently irked by Donato Jr. and his convoy’s presence in the area, one armed man came out from Rancho 88 compound with a rifle and black ammunition bandolier and several other unidentified men pulling theor guns from their sling bags and spread out in front of the gasoline station within Rancho 88. Four minutes later, 1:59PM, Abra policemen also reported that some unidentified men reportedly led by retired Philippine Army Lt. Col. Thomas Bravo Baluga, one of the nominees of PBBM partylist led by the suspended Pidigan Mayor, on board a bulletproof metallic gray SUV blocked the road along the Abra-Ilocos Sur Road particularly in front of Palawan remittance center along barangay Pangtud. Major Mateo reportedly called for assistance from the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of the 113rd Special Action
Company of the PNP Special Action Force (SAC-SAF) that were deployed nearby and when they arrived at the scene at around 2:02PM, they reportedly saw around 30 armed men fleeing towards ‘Rancho 88’.

When sought for reaction, Baluga, who once headed the Philippine Army Brigade stationed in Abra before retiring and seeking the mayoralty post in Piat, Cagayan province in 2022, had not responded. Meanwhile, a security guard died-on-the spot after a gunman shot at him before 11PM Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Sitio Ram-ramot, Barangay San Antonio, Bangued. The victim was identified as Ronie Bolante, a resident of Sitio Ramramot, Barangay San Antonio, Bangued. Initial investigation of the police disclosed that Bolante was with his live-in-partner and were sleeping inside their hut when the suspect fired hitting him on his head killing him instantly. Investigation is still ongoing.

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN