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Valeras, Bernoses continue to dominate Abra politics

By Liza Agoot

May 10, 2022, 6:00 pm

<p><strong>ABRA HISTORY.</strong> Framed photos of Abra's governors, past and present, line the walls at the provincial capitol in Bangued on Tuesday (May 10, 2022). Records from as far back as 1922 show that connection between the Valera, Bersamin, Paredes, Seares, Puruganan clans and present-day officials of the province. <em>(PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)</em></p>

ABRA HISTORY. Framed photos of Abra's governors, past and present, line the walls at the provincial capitol in Bangued on Tuesday (May 10, 2022). Records from as far back as 1922 show that connection between the Valera, Bersamin, Paredes, Seares, Puruganan clans and present-day officials of the province. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)

BANGUED, Abra – After a battle among three families vying for the top posts in this province, members of the Valera and Bernos families will be retaining their posts after emerging victorious in the May 9 elections.

Based on the partial unofficial result of the provincial canvassing, both Bangued Mayor Dominic Valera and her daughter, Governor Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos, were leading the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial governor posts, respectively.

Valera-Bernos’ mother and incumbent Bangued vice-mayor Mila Valera has already been proclaimed the winner of the Bangued mayoral race. Meanwhile, Joaquin Enrico “Kiko” Valera Bernos -- Valera-Bernos’ son and Mila's grandson -- has likewise been proclaimed as Bangued vice mayor.

Valera-Bernos' brother, Joseph Domino Valera, was reelected mayor of the municipality of Pidigan.

Her brother-in-law Joseph Sto. Nino "JB" Bernos, a two-term congressman in the lone district of Abra who ran unopposed as mayor of La Paz municipality, was proclaimed on Monday evening.

Bernos’ wife, Menchie, who is incumbent La Paz mayor, is leading the congressional race in the province. Once official, the spouses will be swapping seats starting June 30, 2022.

Joseph's mother Esther Bernos was proclaimed vice mayor of Danglas, while his sister Denise Florence Bernos-Bragas got reelected as mayor of the municipality of Danglas. Denise's husband Russel Bragas is leading in the race for board member of Abra's First District.

From the Bersamin family, both former Governor Eustaquio “Takit” and his niece Chari, daughter of former Congressman Chito who was killed in New Manila in Quezon City in 2006, were both in the second spot of the respective gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial races in Abra. Chari's sister, Anne, also lost in the Bangued mayoralty race.

Both former Rep. Cecilia Seares Luna and her husband Roger Luna are lagging in Lagayan mayoral and vice gubernatorial races, respectively.

Cecilia's children -- siblings DeyDey Luna Ifurung, running for governor; Ryan Luna, running for Bangued mayor; and Buc Roger Luna, running for Bangued vice mayor -- are all lagging behind in their respective races.

Family line

Abra’s political landscape has always been dominated by the same political clans, some of which date back to 120 years ago.

Before the emergence of the Lunas, Bersamins, Valeras, and the Bernos, Vicente “Vicsyd” Valera was already in power, serving as governor from 1986 to 1987 during the transition government and elected from 1988 to 1998 and again from 2001 to 2004. He also served as congressman of the province.

The history of the province shows governors with family names related to the present-day officials.

Virgilio Valera, who served as governor of Abra from 1922 to 1925 and from 1930 to 1936, is a distant relative of “Vicsyd” Valera.

Eustaquio Purruganan, who served as governor from 1925 to 1930 and from 1939 to 1941, is the maternal grandfather of Eustaquio “Takit” Bersamin and the brother of Vicsyd’s grandmother.

Luis Bersamin, who served as governor from 1946 to 1947, is the father of Eustaquio “Takit.”

Lucas Paredes, who served as governor for two years from 1951 to 1953, is the uncle of “Vicsyd.”

Jose Valera, who served as governor from 1954 to 1963, is the father of Vicsyd and the first-degree cousin of Petronillo Seares, who served from 1961 to 1971, and is also the uncle of Cecilia Seares Luna.

Andres Bernos, who served as governor from 1984 to 1986, is the father of JB Bernos, while Zita Claustro Valera, who served as governor from 1998 to 2001, is the spouse of Vicsyd. (PNA)

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