Two Assassins Linked To Ex Abra Mayor Surrender

November 25, 2019 Headlines

La Trinidad, Benguet (November 22, 2019) – Two self-confessed gun-for-hire group members surrendered to the Cordillera police regional headquarters Thursday afternoon here. Laborer Fortunato Donato Rodriguez, 30, and Benjie Andres Vista, 36, both natives of barangay Pulot, Lagayan town in Abra, showed up to the Regional Intelligence Division Office in Camp Bado Dangwa here to turn themselves in and clear their name.
Cordillera police spokesperson Captain Carol Lacuata said the duo, who have since fled Lagayan town after the elections and sought refuge in Pugo town in La Union, were linked to the “Sindon” Private Armed Group (PAG), a newly identified group allegedly supported by former Lagayan Mayor Jendrix Seares Luna.
Luna, who has since lost to now Lagayan incumbent town mayor Edmarc Crisologo last May, however detested how his political foes still gang up on him despite him already out in local politics in Abra. “I have long left Abra, how come are they still blaming me or linking me?
Earlier in July this year, Vista was caught by policemen together with four other alleged “goons” linked to former mayor Luna, allegedly responsible in a riverbank ambush January this year against a village official and a 17 year old boy were caught.
Jackiemar B. Escalante, Jeronimo P. Andoy, Fernando C. Blaza Jr., Jaypee A. Bersamira and Vista, were taken by policemen for the attempted murder of Collago, Lagayan barangay Kagawad Jayron Dulig Martinez, 31, and 17-year old Brix Aquino Donato.
But according to former mayor Luna, such case was dismissed after the prosecutor found no evidence against the 5 including Vista.
Vista and Rodriguez on Thursday signed an Affidavit of Undertaking before the Cordillera regional police denying that they are members of the “Sindon” PAG and promised to cooperate with the PNP and shun criminal activities.

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN