Ex-Abra governor Valera to appeal murder conviction

The camp of former Abra governor Vicente Valera will appeal before the Court of Appeals (CA) his conviction for the killing of former Abra representative Luis Bersamin and his police escort in December 2006.

In a statement Thursday, Valera's daughter Anne Valera said Quezon City Judge Roslyn Rabara-Tria's "erroneous" decision was based on "questionable and flimsy" evidence.

"The decision of the trial court raises great concern about the political nature of the judicial process and verdict, and the use of the judicial system for the continued political persecution of my dad," she said.

Anne maintained the innocence of her father, insisting that the Valeras and the Bersamins were good friends and political allies.

"Sadly, the trial court, with all due respect, ignored the fact that there was no evidence at all presented in court that proves my dad either pulled the trigger or that he masterminded it," she said.

Anne said the Quezon City judge seemed to have disregarded a testimony from Bersamin's driver, Allan Sawadan, that he was merely pressured to implicate people.  She added that state witness Sonny Taculao, who she said was twice convicted in the past, was clearly motivated by self-interest to save himself.

"We are now left with no choice but to appeal this erroneous conviction and hope that the Court of Appeals will not only correct this glaring injustice and manifest errors by the trial court but also put an end to the practice of using our justice system for political persecution," Anne said.

In her decision, Judge Rabara-Tria sentenced Valera and his co-accused to up to 40 years in prison.  Also found guilty were Valera's co-accused, Rufino Panday and Leo Bello.

Bersamin and his bodyguard were shot dead at the Mt. Carmel church in New Manila, Quezon City on Dec. 16, 2006.

Valera and the two co-accused were also found guilty for the frustrated murder of Bersamin's driver Allan Sawadan.

Bersamin is brother of Justice Lucas Bersamin. —Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News