P1-M reward up for Abra blast suspect’s capture

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines — A P1-million reward has been offered for the capture of the principal suspect in a grenade attack that killed two police officers and wounded 24 others in La Paz, Abra.

Among those wounded in the incident that occurred last Thursday were Rep. Joseph Bernos and his wife, La Paz Mayor Menchie Bernos.

The lawmaker, who offered the reward, wanted to hold the suspect accountable and give justice to the families of the victims.

“We need this person alive, so we will know his motives and possibly of those behind the attack,” Bernos said. 

He urged all Abra residents to help authorities locate the suspect.

Gov. Maria Jocelyn Valera-Bernos said the incident was an attack on innocent lives, noting the residents have been working hard to improve the image of the province.

Slain cops to get award

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will award the two police officers who were killed in the Abra grenade attack.

The PNP said it would also extend financial assistance to the families of Police Officer 3 Carlos Baccali Bocaig and PO2 Frenzel Buneng Kitoyan.

The officers were part of a group tasked to secure the fiesta celebration in the La Paz town when they were killed.

Sources said Bocaig and Kitoyan would also be conferred posthumous awards for losing their lives in the line of duty.

Bocaig was part of Oplan Exodus in Mamasapano that resulted in the killing of Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and 44 Special Action Force commandos in 2015.

Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, chief of the Cordillera police, said the PNP gave an initial financial assistance to the families of Bocaig and Kitoyan.
“The PSMBFI will release the initial assistance on Monday, both for the deceased and injured victims,” Chief Inspector Carolina Lacuata, spokesperson for the Cordillera police, said, referring to the Police Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc.

Lacuata said 26 persons were injured in the incident, but some of the victims were not immediately recorded because they went home after the explosion.
A task force headed by Senior Superintendent Sterling Raymund Blanco, Cagayan Valley police deputy director for operations, was created to investigate the incident.– With Cecille Suerte Felipe