Fugitive mayor uses YouTube

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—The Abra mayor who is being hunted by the police for a 2007 murder charge surfaced online on Tuesday over the video sharing site YouTube and told his supporters that he planned to surrender.

Bangued Mayor Ryan Luna, a reelectionist, was issued a warrant of arrest by an Abra Regional Trial Court judge after he was implicated in the killing of Brenda Crisologo, wife of Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo, during the 2007 election canvassing.

In the YouTube video, Luna appeared in a long-sleeved gray shirt, with a floral curtain as his only backdrop.

Speaking in Ilocano, Luna addressed his supporters by advising them not to worry because he was just in the neighborhood. “I want to surface soon to show my innocence and clear my name,” Luna said.

“I am talking to my lawyers so I can fix my papers,” he said.

Last month, the Department of Justice pursued charges against Luna when it reviewed the case and learned from a witness that he was seen talking to the suspect, Totoy Dayao, minutes before Crisologo was attacked.

Luna was implicated in the murder case with Lenin Benwaren, Pedro Benwaren, Tony Benwaren, Henry Lee Tan, Nober Calubing and Jonathan Libuen.

In Bulacan, police are hunting San Rafael Vice Mayor Cipriano Violago Jr., who, with four others, was linked to the murder of a policeman last year. Reports from Frank Cimatu, Inquirer Northern Luzon, and Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon