March 29, 2024

Former Bangued, Abra mayor Ryan Seares Luna is being pointed to as the mastermind in the killing of a punong barangay at the capital town in April.

Luna, who was recently defeated in his comeback bid, was included in the amended murder complaint field before the Abra Prosecutor’s Office over the killing of Angad PB Ronnie Bringas.

Police Regional Office-Cordillera Information Officer Capt. Marnie Abellanida said the suspect, Robert Lazo Millare, 21, has confessed to police investigators that Luna is the one who allegedly incited him to shoot the 45-year-old Bringas on April 27.

Abellanida said Millare voluntarily executed his sworn statement on May 4 in the presence of his legal counsel Estelita Cordero.

Also, Millare said Banjo Roland Peig Claveria is the one who concealed him when he fled the crime scene. With this, Claveria was charged for obstruction of justice. 

A separate case for violation of Sec. 261 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines in relation to Comelec Resolution 10728 or the election gun ban was also filed against the suspect.

On April 27, Bringas was watching a basketball game when he was shot by an unidentified male person. The suspect fled aboard a motorcycle that crashed on the side of the road. The suspect left the motorcycle behind and ran on foot.

Bystanders tried to grab the suspect but he drew his gun and pointed at them, allowing him to escape. Prior to his death, Bringas survived an ambush on April 27, 2019.

Luna was quoted claiming harassment over the inclusion of his name in the murder of Bringas, saying politics could be the motive behind it.

The former mayor claimed Millare’s statement was made under duress. 

Luna was also earlier included in the criminal complaint in connection with the 2007 killing of Brenda Crisologo, the wife of Tineg Mayor Edward Crisologo.

In 2013, a regional trial court in Abra issued an arrest warrant against Luna, who then went into hiding. – Ofelia C. Empian