PNP tags Daraga mayor Baldo in killing of Rep. Batocabe
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2019 05:09:10 +0000
BATOCABE
Police today tagged the mayor of Daraga, Albay, Carlwyn Baldo, as the mastermind behind the killing of Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort last month.
Director General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police, said that Baldo sought the services of former soldiers, communist rebels, and militiamen to eliminate Batocabe.
Police had said that local politics is the strongest motive behind the killing of Batocabe since he decided to run for mayor of Daraga as he was already on his last term as partylist representative.
“The mayor offered P5 million…he initially gave P250,000 for the purchase of guns and motorcycles to be used in the plan,” said Albayalde.
Albayalde said the involvement of Baldo and the identification of those who carried out the killing were disclosed after a witness surrendered and voluntarily gave a statement detailing his knowledge of the plot.
The PNP chief said the plot to kill Batocabe started as early as August last year after Batocabe declared his plan to run for mayor of Daraga.
The witness reportedly backed out of the plan. But he identified two of the suspects as present during the gift-giving ceremony when Batocabe and his escort were gunned down. (Aaron Recuenco)
(To be updated)