Presidencia in La Paz, Abra
Philippine Daily Inquirer, By Vincent Cabreza Inquirer Northern Luzon With a report from Leoncio Balbin Jr., contributor
BAGUIO CITY—A congressional candidate for the lone district of Abra province and his father are facing a complaint for murders that took place more than 10 years ago.
Mayor Joseph Sto. Niño Bernos, of La Paz town, who is running for Abra representative, and his father, Danglas Vice Mayor Andres Bernos, were accused of ordering the murders of Joel Afos in 2002, La Paz vice mayoral candidate Ruben Afos in 2004, and William Sagun in 2006, according to a complaint sent to Abra Prosecutor Nestor Tolentino by lawyer Manuel George Jularbal, Ilocos regional director of the National Bureau of Investigation.
The accusations were “clearly political harassment,” Mayor Bernos told the INQUIRER on Thursday.
The NBI Ilocos office filed the complaint on Dec. 21, citing the testimony of a witness who claimed to have seen Mayor Bernos give a gun to his bodyguard. The pistol was supposedly used in one of the three murders that the NBI had been investigating.
The complaint was the second criminal case the NBI filed against Mayor Bernos and Vice Mayor Bernos, a former Abra governor.
The first case filed in 2013 was based on the testimony of Mayor Bernos’ bodyguard, who admitted he killed the three men. But the case was dismissed due to insufficiency of evidence, Jularbal said, adding that the bodyguard’s testimony was not corroborated by other witnesses.
On Dec. 8, Mayor Bernos’ driver surfaced and testified against him, forcing the NBI to file a new complaint against the officials for preliminary investigation.
Mayor Bernos said he and his father were facing “rehashed accusations,” which the prosecutor had already dismissed. “But we will answer these accu- sations,” he added.
On Dec. 28, lawyer Dave Alunan, assistant director of the NBI Ilocos, petitioned the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor to assign new prosecutors to handle the case against the Bernoses.
Alunan said the NBI “could not obtain a fair and impartial resolution” from Tolentino’s office because the case involved influential politicians.
Alunan cited “previous incidents that transpired in the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor [of Abra], involving a politician threatening the lives of the prosecutors assigned [to the province].”
Mayor Bernos and his father belong to an influential political family. A family member, La Paz Mayor Marc Ysrael Bernos, had fallen victim to Abra’s history of political violence.
Marc Ysrael, Mayor Bernos’ brother, was gunned down while he was watching a basketball game in the town plaza on Jan. 13, 2006.
Marc Ysrael’s murder has yet to be solved, unlike the Dec. 16, 2006 assassination of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin Jr. at the wedding of his niece in Quezon City.
Former Abra Gov. Vicente Valera was convicted for the Bersamin murder by a Quezon City court in September.
The murders of Tineg Mayor Clarence Benwaren, who was shot dead in a church in Laguna province on Nov. 7, 2002, and Tubo Mayor Jose Segundo, who was killed on Dec. 27, 2001, have not yet been solved.
Marc Ysrael’s widow, incumbent Rep. Joy Valera-Bernos, is running for governor in the May 2016 elections.
In 2004, the government withdrew Abra’s police force and installed a special police task force after a government fact-finding team noted that some of the unsolved political murders in the province may have been committed by private armed groups hired by political families.
abrenian.com 
I am inviting these suicide bombers in Jakarta ,Indonesia to come here in Abra Capitol and blow yourselves up in Koliglig headquarters.
Posted by Tira Bayaw | January 14, 2016, 12:46 amPush as to the limit and you will be hearing “Allahu Akbar” soon in the ABRANISTAN
Posted by BALLASIW ARMY | January 14, 2016, 1:01 amTAQUITO finally you got the real mastermind in court behind the death of your brother Chito
Investigative Reporters nootebook says the timing of events who made kabalyo and chito looks like they are fighting but its not they even put bridge on top of their houses the chain of killing of events started from Ruben Afos manok ni Chito for Mayor in la Paz killed by ysrael goons then ysrael killed by Chitos army then Chito killed by Bernos valera goons yrweverybody knows that this was the real story they only see kabalyo before not the driver thats why he is on jail for a crime he did not commit
Posted by Kl.com | January 14, 2016, 2:52 amUray pay kasano ti panang rikep mo rumuar nga rumuar ti kinagpaysu na idi rugian ni JB nga ipan amin dagitoy kasla dala manok nga kotak nga kotaken
Posted by Poblasyun la paz | January 14, 2016, 4:14 amKawawang cowboy talaga si kabalyo,ikaw ba naman ang ikokolong na hindi mo naman alam na walang kamalay malay iwanna bet that kabalyo dont even know the story of this deaths cause chito live by the sword secretly before halos naubos noong araw ang mga loko loko noon pero sa ngayun dumami na naman ikolong mo lahat sila ngayun bossing Takit para tuloy tuloy na ang ligaya hahahaha maliban lang kung may God is great diyan bantayan ang kapaligiran
Posted by Mister patallo patallo | January 14, 2016, 5:07 amIf indeed kabalyo is not the real mastermind then ask chari to withdraw the case so that cour of appeals will reverse the decision of the rtc. Ganun lng kasimple lakay. But the bersamins play their games very well they want to create confussion among the abrenians so that their foes would be devil in the eyes of the abrenisns while they will be saint by letting abrenian idiots to believe informarions coming from their spin dictors like rose collo maritess sayet n gadiang whose husband is behind bar for murder case in cagayan n some members of the cbcp who are only visible during inauguration of substandards projects. I am for justice for everybody who are victims of violent like my love one the reinvestigation agnts the bersons vindicates me that takit can do a lot if he realky wanted to give justice to all victims of violence but he did not he condoned his allies n foes so that corruption issues in his administration will be cover of killing incidents and he would ask sympathy from idiot abrenians. Pawawa effect is the game of takit pwe.
Posted by eric shawn | January 14, 2016, 6:29 amif that happen Eric Shawn Kabalyo will sue the Bersamins bigtime jailing a wrong person is totally wrong and it shows how bad our justice system the one that makes the law and the one that execute them..we all know that the Bersamins take advantage on the sitwation by blaming kabalyo coz they dont know who are the perpetrators are and their family ambition to be a governor,people are resurfacing now to tell the reality , accept it or not , up to this days koliglig does not know why his brother died and how the ballasiw dictators drag to this(refer to kl.com posting.)The bernoses are hunting this people not to talk about it but what can they do now they are all rich and they have all the resources that they need to talk
Posted by Radio Jupiter | January 14, 2016, 10:16 amNO ANIA IMULAM ISU TI APITIM.-Karma kunada. No agmulaka ti tarong saan nga tamatis ti ibungana. No lastogka, lastog met ti ibagada kenca. No saan mo nga maapit ditoy rabaw daga apitimto no agsarak kay ken Satanas wenno ni san pedro. Ngem apay ngata nga agpayso nga TAY DAKES NGA ROOT KET NARIGAT NGA MATAY? Ket dagitay nasingpet isuda met ti biit. Dayta lakay nga kriminal, dayta lakay nga senator, apay nagpaot ti biagdan?
Nagasat tayo ta ni apo Takit ti governador a saanna a kayat ti pin natay. Siguro ammona no ANIA TI IMULAM ISUT APITIM. baka ammona pay nga uray daydi manongna maikawa met kas kuna ti dadduma ditoy. isu nga isardengen ti manta tun ti justicia no ti nadisgracia nga ipatpateg ket nag basbasol met. Adu ti mangibagbaga kano ken apo governador nga agsublin diay state ta delikado ti biagna, ngem madi. belibak ti turedna ken agyaman tayo ta adun ti naaramidan na ti ilolong-aw ti Abra saan laeng nga linak ken talna ngem kalidad ti biag aglalo ti banbantay nga arigna di kam pay nakakita idi ti nasemento nga kalsada.
Posted by CONTRALASTOG | January 14, 2016, 9:00 amSus contralastog mamati ti rason nga madi da kayat ibbatan ti turay haan nga dagit bersamins laen ti makaidalo ti abra dnt be messuanic as if god has chosen them to lead abra. Its all about money n power that they can nt have in america. As takit said in his meeting with various leaders inabra and manila that awan tuwid na daan kundi dapat meron 5oo pesos na maiwaras kasya kaya 500 nya compared to 3t of the bernoses
Posted by eric shawn | January 14, 2016, 5:03 pmTHERE ARE SO MANY GOOD LEADERS HERE IN ABRA THAT CAN DO GOOD GOVERNANCE BASE ON THEIR PERFORMANCES AS A PROFFESSIONAL ONE OF THEM IS A CONGRESMAN CANDIDATE OR RATHER SAY DR LITONG BRINGAS A VERY INTELIGENT DOCTOR WHO COULD DELIVER A VOICE FOR ABRENIANS AT THE CONGRESS SO LETS VOTE DR LITO BRINGAS FOR CONGRESSMAN!!!
Posted by Alex | January 15, 2016, 1:26 amLets try also the unknown general who had vast experience in bringing good governance of those countries who were risen from chaos. Hipe he will put abra in the top like what he had done to those contries. I ddnt know him but my vote will go to him bec the two known vying for governir are both corrupt n arrogant.
Posted by eric shawn | January 15, 2016, 8:29 amTi kina ado ti kuarta Da dagitoy Bernos agbagsak to metla nga AREGLO
Posted by kuarta kuarta | January 15, 2016, 4:31 amHigit na maraming pera ang mga Ampatuan sa maguindanao di naman naareglo ang kaso nila. Sanay ganon din na mabubulok sa kulongan ang mga criminal dito sa Abra.
Sanay manalo si doc Litong Bringas tulad ni Trillanes noon kahit walang gastos. Sanay sa election na ito hindi pera ang usapan kundi katapatan, kakayahan, at may malinis na damdamin manglinkod sa lalawigan ang iboboto ng Abrenians .
Posted by KAPITAN | January 15, 2016, 9:32 amGaling kay Binay ang mga pera nang mga Bernos Kapitan kaya wala iyang Ampatuan na yan Barya Barya lang yan iho
Posted by Maryo kosep | January 17, 2016, 11:23 amPadasen tayo met ti sabali maka uma met ti kanayon gulo ti probinsya tayo…mabilang mo laeng sino dagiti pamilya nga adda iti turay manipud ama , anak , kabsat ken naikamang nga myembro ti pamilyada itu unis ti uppat nga dekada…adu dagiti makabalin ken nasisirid nga patanor ti Abra ngem agkedked da met piman nga makigasang-gasat gapuen ti kinarugit ti pulitika ti probinsiya tayo Ita ta adda agngayangay ken desidido nga umay mangted baro nga dana ti panagbalbaliw ti panagtaray ti pulitika ditoy probinsya tayo… padasen tayo ida. We have a retired general who is wlling and has most of the qualities of a non traditional politician to run for governor and a doctor whose noble intention is to change abra for the better… i think they are the better CHOICE for Abra’s better future. We need to encourage each and everyone that this coming election is all about bringing” CHANGE ” for the future.Stand and be counted… do not let the corruption of the few influential families to go on and on… Agriing tayo koma amin.
Posted by Sika ken siak ti panagbalballiw | January 15, 2016, 1:58 pmLets rally behind the two underdogs it might be a providential for them to win. Their victory is a manifestatation that we dnt want corrupt and tyrant leaders to rule in our province. Lets support the doctor n the general for better abra.
Posted by eric shawn | January 16, 2016, 4:15 amti la makonak apo ket ni MARCO BAUTISTA TI KAYAT MI, damage laeng apo san kadi nga ni ERIC BRINGAS KET MANONG NA NI DR. JOSELITO?
Posted by taga san juan apo | January 15, 2016, 8:55 pmNey saan ka nga agiraman a ta taga San Juan nak pay met ni Dr.litong Bringas ti kayat mi ken bilin ni Governador Takit , agkabagyan kay ngata ken ni Marco Bautista di isu ti ibotos mo , dida kami a iramraman ta dimi met kayat ni Atty Marco Takaw Bautista
Posted by kuarta kuarta laeng | January 16, 2016, 1:28 amAgree,Umun una ket detoy ka partido na ngem toy kasinsin nan Blood is ticker than water
Posted by BATANG KIDAWEN SAN JUAN | January 16, 2016, 1:43 amMukhang pera ka sika ti sipsipbuto men agtatakaw. Ni mayor mi honest ken good leader
Posted by Ganagan | January 16, 2016, 12:27 pmNgata;;;;,isu ti nakatayan ni James Bersamin deta panggep ti ill gotten wealth under false name supervise by Marco questionable money deposited to his work @PNB;;;;where is money coming from ;;;;;of course he will hold the money to be release to save his job too but what happen next James was gun down and to many people blaming one another then nbi question Marco,you see even Takit does not know about this but when he read this my advice to him is to be careful of sleeping with his enemy that was happen to Cong Chito masyadong kompiansa sa tao;;;;;;yon siya ang dinali nang mga kaibigan niya kono with a different intentions and it is showing up this election…kaya huwag tiwala kay Marco ..please dont let happen to you first before its too late to believe in what i say ;;;;;learn from previous experiences;;; hoping everybody is smart
Posted by Maryo kosep | January 16, 2016, 3:33 pmMukhang pera ka sika ti sipsipbuto ken agtatakaw awan ti pudno nga sawsawen angkuan and kuarta.taka Quinba ka maimatagan dakita adu projects nga awan makatumbas bayat ti panagmayor no Atty Marco isu nga na awardan best governance ti local govt.bulsek ka ngata or you are misinformed or just ignorant?
Posted by Ganagan | January 16, 2016, 2:55 pmsame thing with our mayor in Tayum more ghoast projects than the actual project mahirap intindihin nang masa kung bakit hindi kayo nakokontento sa napalaking sahod ninyo , ano ito kontest nang nakawan kahit hirap na ang dapat pinag ukolan nang mga perang iyan sabihin mo mga mga ang kakapal ang mga mukha ninyo at walang awa sa kapwa sana po ay kahit konting kaginhawaan man lamang po na totoong projects
Posted by Maryo kosep | January 17, 2016, 11:31 amang tingin nila ang pondo ay sa kanila na
Posted by kantotero | January 17, 2016, 11:48 amAnia koma met ti ited na dayta a marco bautista maysa met a corrupt a tao dayta, damagenyo ketdi kania na a no sinno ti nanpapatay ken daydi dios ni alwad na a james bersamin.
Posted by angkuan | January 16, 2016, 1:32 amYou’re so racist and subrang Bastos! What if that would be another way around? PLEASE BE NICE AND BE KIND NEXT TIME ESPECIALLY TO A PERSON OR PEOPLE THAT DIDN’T DO ANYTHING BAD TO YOU! PEACE AND THANK YOU IF YOU CAN DO SO. IT IS GOOD FOR YOU ESPECIALLY TO YOUR SOUL!
Posted by San Juan Blues | January 16, 2016, 4:05 amYes, because people aren’t perfect.
Posted by Maryo kosep | January 16, 2016, 4:20 amYou are god damr son of a bitch.the killing of the late bersamin was politics. The NBI had investigated this and Marco was cleared. Fumbled don’t make any charge without any foundation.Marco is not agtatakaw
.his money and family were honest people.you be careful because you are out of bounce. I know who you are.pls be honest and don’t destroy somebody refutation because you be in troulble
Posted by Ganagan | January 16, 2016, 11:23 amIf you have any agenda angkuan just keep it. You are entitled to your opinion but don’t come out and tell everybody false accusation
Posted by Ganagan | January 16, 2016, 11:31 amAll of them are corrupt for the beginners soon to be corrupted if they win. The same dog with different collar vote whom you know he can be help of your undertakings for those supporters of marco he is indeed corrupt n murder if takit can initiate investigation agnst the bernoses why spare marco that is sekective justice trademark of the bersamins look his brother b4 he became sc justice he had the most backlog cases at the CA.
Posted by eric shawn | January 17, 2016, 8:56 amTama ka diyan Eric Shawn a one sided Abra Justice System, just because of ill gotten money , a bank manager just gun down for their greediness
Posted by Maryo kosep | January 17, 2016, 11:35 amMONEY MONEY MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL IN ABRA , THEREFORE, ONLY THE CORRUPT POLITICIANS WILL WIN THIS COMING ELECTION. ASK THE FOLLOWERS OF CORRUPT ABRA OFFICIALS , THEY WILL SAY; WALANG PERA, WALANG BOTO! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
VOTE AND THINK WISELY
THE FUTURE OF THE PROVINCE OF ABRA IS IN YOUR HANDS!!!!!
Posted by kantotero | January 17, 2016, 4:31 pmAgpanonot kayo kaka ilian ta daytay ibotos yo ket saan nga daytay adda panonot na nga agaramid ti linteg ti apan na obra-en diay congresso saa nga apan nga patung-ed ken agbilang ti alu-ti-it man ti mapanen
Posted by DANGDANGLA COWBOYS | January 19, 2016, 2:30 amSaludsodek man no naaresto dagitoy agama? Sadino ti papanan daytoy nga kaso ngata?
Posted by Make my day | January 20, 2016, 7:53 amKet no ngarud matuloy ti aresto da nga agama kasanu ngarud ti kamangen tay Mayor ti Tayumen?? awan la pulos ngaruden ta awan to met tay mangisalakan ken mayor ti tayumen. maawan dagitay goons dan. baka maabak pay ket ngatan ta awan ti back-up nan aggapu ken JB. maabak ngarud tay mayor ti Tayumen no matuloy ti aresto…
Posted by kailian ti abra | January 20, 2016, 6:59 pmBareng a no dida sweetie ken toy BOTOS Ni Joey ta Di kallabes NGA election KET Kasta LA unay ti panang totok da ti m-16 KADAGITOY Apan bomotosen sigon ti panagkitak KET TAGA LA paz da digitoy iso NGA sapay ta maybalod Danton dagitoy AGAMAN NGA Bernosen sakbay ti election ta dida ket agpabuteng ti tat tao
Posted by HONESTO | January 22, 2016, 1:51 amKasatno ngaruden no maaresto ni Bossing JB ken Tatang na, di pay agpiesta ti ili nga La paz’en?
Posted by Gringo | February 20, 2016, 8:40 amUray pay ngata Pati tayumen,,agpiestan to pay ngaruden!!!!!!!
Posted by kailian ti abra | March 10, 2016, 7:39 pm