House honors Ako Bicol Rep. Batocabe
Credit to Author: cbibe| Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2019 03:36:23 +0000
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Monday held a requiem Mass and necrological service in honor of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe who was assassinated in Daraga, Albay, last Dec. 22.
Batocabe’s wife, Gertie, and sons Justin and Kiel attended the final tribute to the 52-year-old legislator. The Mass started at about 10 a.m.
“The late Hon. Rodel M. Batocabe was an exemplar of how the party-list framework effectively works for the Filipino people,” the program invitation stated.
“We celebrate his memory as an unyielding advocate of eradicating poverty through affordable quality education. He was also a proponent of legislative efforts to mitigate the occurrence of hazing and bullying in schools. A lawyer by profession, he took a firm stand in promoting social justice, women empowerment, environmental protection, renewable energy and universal access to health and education,” it added.
Family of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe arrives here at the House plenary for the chamber’s mass and necrological services for the slain congressman. pic.twitter.com/5tmk0xbVBX
— Path Roxas (@PathRoxasINQ) January 14, 2019
Batocabe’s widow embraced lawmakers and friends upon their arrival at the plenary hall.
The slain lawmaker was the representative of Ako Bicol party-list for three consecutive terms and the lead convenor and spokesperson of the Party-List Coalition in past Congresses. In the present Congress, he was the president of the 50-member Party-List Coalition.
Batocabe was supposed to run against incumbent Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo in the May 13 elections, but the lawmaker and his police escort, SPO2 Orlando Diaz, were shot dead while leaving a gift-giving event for senior citizens.
READ: PNP: Daraga Mayor is Batocabe slay ‘mastermind’ | PNP chief orders cancellation of Daraga Mayor’s gun permits
The police has identified Baldo as the mastermind behind the congressman’s assassination. The mayor and his alleged cohorts are now facing murder charges.
Baldo has denied the allegations. /cbb
READ: Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, police escort killed in Albay / Daraga mayor: I did not kill Batocabe, SPO2 Diaz