Murder charges slapped vs 4 suspects in Bersamin slay

The Quezon City Prosecutor's Office on Friday recommended the filing of murder charges against four purported conspirators in the assassination of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin Jr. Charged before the the Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) were retired Army Sgt. Rufino Panday, who had confessed particpation in the crime, and his three other alleged cohorts. Panday had earlier tagged Abra Gov. Vicente Valera as the mastermind in the slay. Also included in the charge sheet submitted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) are Freddie Dupo, former vice mayor of La Paz town in Abra; purported triggerman Dominador Barbosa; and Sonny Taculao, the alleged getaway vehicle driver. The three remain at large. The accused were charged with two counts of murder and two counts of frustrated murder before the Quezon City RTC-Branches 84, 85, 87 and 88. Judge Rosanna Fe Maglaya of the QC RTC-Branch 88 set Panday's arraignment on January 3 at 8:30 a.m. No bail has been recommended. Panday had claimed that Valera, who was arrested before dawn Friday on traffic violations, paid him P5 million to organize a team that would carry out the murder of Bersamin. During the actual murder on December 16, the 63-year-old Panday supposedly served as the lookout. Bersamin's bodyguard, Senior Police Officer (SPO) 1 Adelfo Ortega, 49, was also killed in the murder at the Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City. Valera has denied knowing Panday and any participation in the crime. The latter is the operations manager of Altron Security and Investigation Agency. In the charge sheet, Panday is listed as a resident of 229 Jasmine Street, Cembo, Makati City. The CIDG has named Panday as one of the four people who purchased the getaway motorcycle, which was abandoned near the church. Panday is currently detained at the Quezon City jail.-GMANews.TV