Ex-Abra gov's lawyer, 2 others killed in attacks

CANDON CITY - Three Bangued residents including a prominent lawyer of deposed Abra Gov. Vicente Valera were shot dead in three separate gun attacks in the capital town of Abra. Cordillera Police Regional Director Eugene Martin said that police are looking whether the killing of 75-year-old Demetrio Pre last Saturday was politically motivated. Pre was killed by an unidentified gunman while he was talking to two clients identified as Bernardo Banez inside his law office at Zone 4. Pre was shot in the head with a caliber .45 pistol. The case handled by Pre with Banez involved a land dispute case in Abra but Pre was also a notary public to most of the cases of the former governor. Right after Pre was shot, Martin said a municipal hall guard was also killed by unidentified gunmen. Efren Barselona, 32, was said to be manning the door of the Bangued Municipal Hall when the attackers asked permission to come in supposedly to use the automated teller machine inside. But immediately after entering the building, the assailants shot Barselona. Another guard was spared. Barselona sustained 14 gunshot wounds from an assault rifle and died. The latest incident involved a businesswoman who was shot dead Monday night on Gomez Street corner Magallanes Street. Evangeline Valera of Bucloc, Abra, but already a Bangued resident was shot in the head with a caliber .38 revolver while she was walking with a woman friend. - GMANews.TV