Police scoured the possible hideouts of former Abra Governor Vicente Valera in Quezon City but failed to arrest the controversial local official who is now wanted for the killing of a congressman in the troubled province of the Cordillera Administrative Region in 2006.

Superintendent Noli Romana, of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said a team of policemen visited Valera’s house in Fairview, Xavierville Subdivision and Kamias all in Quezon City but to no avail.

“We asked his relatives and they said they did not know where he is,” said Romana.

Romana said the operation is part of their effort to serve the arrest warrant issued by a Quezon City court in connection with the assassination of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin outside a church in New Manila in Quezon City in 2006.

Valera surfaced as a principal suspect not only because he is the main political rival of Bersamin but because the cops also claimed that he was the one who ordered the hit.

Aside from Valera, also charged in connection with the Bersamin killing were Jerry Turqueza and Sgt. Leo Bello. They were also charged with frustrated murder as two civilians were wounded when the assassination was carried out near the Mount Carmel Church in Quezon City on December 16, 2006.

Bersamin’s police security escort was also killed during the attack.

As the operation yielded negative, Romana said they will also proceed to all the areas where the former Abra governor is believed to be hiding.

Following the issuance of the arrest warrant last week, Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, revealed that the camp of Valera was reportedly sending “surrender feelers” to authorities.

But Espina admitted that they remain in the dark as to the former governor’s whereabouts.