Revenge not likely after Abra murder; widow seeks justice

October 27, 2018 Headlines

BANGUED, ABRA – Police see no more reason for vengeful killings as an aftermath of the ambush-killing of two volunteers of Abra re-electionist governor Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos on October 22.
Abra police director Sr. Supt. Wilson Soliba said, people in the province “now want peace and reconciliation” completely deviating from its dark past as Cordillera region’s “Killing Fields”.
Governor Bernos’ volunteers Rodel Talledo Pilor, 34, from Kimmalaba, Dolores town, and Roland Lazara, 43, from Cayapa, Lagangilang were on board a motorcycle when they were fired upon at around 9:15am along Pilor’s village in Dolores.
Police found seven shot shells of gauge 12 shotgun and two caliber 5.56 Armalite assault rifle shells where the duo were waylaid.
Meanwhile, Pilor’s wife, Gladys, an OFW in Qatar who wanted to surprise her husband and four young children by coming home unannounced, got her a very bad surprise. It turned out that she came back home to bury his husband.
Gladys said Rodel was sweet and caring especially to their kids Althea Krisha Mae, Glydel Des, Iveler, and Janeth aged 12, 9, 7, and 5, respectively. To his family and relatives, he was a loving person. “Aramiden na amin para kadagiti putot na [He will do everything for his children.],” Gladys sobbed.
Gladys left her farmer-husband support their family. Left to rear their children, Pilor was both a mother and a father to their kids. “With the help of his siblings, Rodel raised our children with love and guidance,” she added.
Pilor’s children Althea, Glydel, and Iveler are all consistent academic achievers. “Their academic achievements made me proud of my husband for raising them well,” Gladys said. “This shows that my husband guided our children well.”
Gladys now has one and only plea, “Sapay kuma ta maikkan iti hustisya ti pannakatay toy asawak, sapay kuma ta agsardengen dagiti kastoy a pammapatay ditoy lugar mi gapu ta adon ti mairamraman nga ordinaryo a tattao. [I hope that justice will be served, I hope these brutal killings in our place end because many ordinary people are being affected.]”
The death of Pilor is one that broke the long period of peace in Abra. As his family implores for justice, the people of Abra ask, “What will now happen to their long enjoyed freedom?”
Governor Valera-Bernos who had condemned the killing said, “For a long time the people of Abra had long much awaited for a peaceful community. I believe we have attained this through the help of the PNP and the AFP.”
The police was tasked to immediately get into the bottom of the ambush and catch the perpetrators “so that justice be given to the family of the victims.”
Soliba admitted the Dolores police have not made any breakthrough on the killing, three days after the ambush which drew “the first blood” in the perenially blood-tainted polls in the province. ACE ALEGRE / ABN