Wanted mayor of Bangued, Abra, resurfaces

MANILA, Philippines – With a backdrop of a black curtain printed with large colorful flowers, Ryan Luna, fugitive mayor of Bangued, Abra, made his first appearance after he went into hiding last week for the murder of a political rival two elections ago.

Luna, wearing a loose, gray shirt, talked about a grand conspiracy of his rivals, including his Vice Mayor Allan Seares who took his oath to replace Luna last week. His Youtube video carries Freddie Aguilar’s Katarungan as a backing track.

“I am talking to my lawyers so I can fix my papers. There’s a grand conspiracy by Gov. Takit and uncle Dominic and Vice Mayor to grab the power from me,” Ryan Luna said. Gov. Takit is Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin, a long-time ally, and Dominic is Dominic Valera, his rival in the mayoralty.

“Don’t permit them, my constituents,” he said.

“I want to surface soon to show my innocence and to clear my name,” Luna added.

Bangued RTC Judge Jaime Dujillo Jr., who had since made himself scarce, signed the arrest warrant against Mayor Luna for shooting to death Brenda Crisologo inside the Holy Spirit Academy campus in Bangued during the official Comelec ballot counting in May 2007.

The Department of Justice recommended the charge against Luna after it allowed a review on the case and learned from a witness that Luna was seen talking to the alleged gunman, Totoy Dayao, minutes before the incident. The witness then said she saw Luna point at Brenda, the wife of Tineg Mayor Edward Crisologo, and then leave. Seconds later, Brenda was shot dead. – Rappler.com