‘Corrupt justice’ blamed for the ambush of Abra chief prosecutor

BANGUED, Abra — Abra Gov. Vicente Valera declared yesterday that corrupt practices allegedly prevailing in the province’s justice system triggered the ambush of the chief provincial prosecutor Rodor Gayao, last Thursday.

Valera made the charge to The STAR yesterday as he urged the provincial police office to focus their investigation on Gayao’s ambush on the manner criminal cases were disposed of at the provincial prosecutor’s office.

Valera also challenged the Department of Justice to conduct an inventory of all cases handled by the courts and the prosecution service in Abra.

He said that it is of public knowledge here that justice is for sale in the province.

"There are many disgruntled litigants in Abra caused by the kind of justice they get and it is a wonder that they have not turned to the New People’s Army rebels for real justice," he told The STAR in an exclusive interview.

He claimed that the ambush victim, provincial prosecutor Rodor Gayao, was suspended by then Justice Secretary Franklin Drilon for alleged "unsatisfactory performance."

The STAR tried to reach Gayao for comment but could not be located as of presstime yesterday. Sources said that he was being kept in an undisclosed place for security reasons.

"The motive (for the ambush) could be dissatisfaction on how criminal cases were handled and the perpetrators could be disgruntled litigants," Valera said.

He urged a parallel investigation being conducted by the justice department through the NBI to include a thorough review of the performance of prosecutors in Abra.