Batocabe remembered at House necrological service
Credit to Author: MARY GLEEFER F. JALEA| Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2019 09:37:13 +0000
THE House of Representatives on Monday held a necrological service for AKO Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe who was killed during a gift-giving event in Daraga, Albay in December.
Lawmakers, friends, colleagues, and supporters mostly clad in black condoled with Batocabe’s widow, Gertie-Duran Batocabe, and sons Justin and Marc, at the plenary hall.
The memorial service started with a Requiem Mass.
Lawyer John Reyes, Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Vicente Mendoza, former 1-CARE Party-list Rep. Michael Rivera, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin, and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered eulogies to honor the congressman.
Reyes, a friend of Batocabe at the University of the Philippines College of Law, described the congressman as someone with a “sunny disposition” that was so infectious that he would even joke about his personal adversities.
Mendoza who taught Batocabe in his Political Law class in 1990 said he was was “a good man and a faithful servant whose life was full of promise.”
Rivera said the death of Batocabe, whom he considered his best friend during his term in Congress, was a severe blow to him.
“Mahal ko ang aking kaibigan kumpare, kapatid, at kapitbahay sa Kongreso. Sa aking dalawang terminong pagkakaupo ng 1-CARE Party-list, sa anim na taon naging kasama ko siya sa lahat ng committee hearings, ang kanyang talino bilang abogado ay nasaksihan ng bawat mambabatas,” he said.
(I love my friend, my brother, and my neighbor in Congress. In my two terms under 1-CARE Party-list, in the six years that I was with him in committee hearings, lawmakers have witnessed his wisdom as a lawyer.)
“Rodel was an active member of the House minority and a prolific lawmaker,” Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said.
Arroyo said Batocabe was the Daragueño who dared during his years of public service.
“All of us recall Rodel to be a bubbly fellow. On the other hand, we have seen what a daring man he was—the Daragueño who dared,” she said.
After the service, the Party-list Coalition Foundation Incorporated (PCFI) launched a photo exhibit at the south wing of the House to feature Batocabe’s life in public service.
“He may be known to be a strongman and a brilliant lawmaker, but most people never got to see his fun side—his human side,” said Garin, who conceptualized the exhibit.
She served as secretary general of PCFI for the 17thCongress with Batocabe as president of the coalition.
Batocabe was killed on December 22, along with his police escort, Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando Diaz, after attending a gift-giving program for senior citizens at Barangay Burgos in Daraga, Albay.
The 52-year-old lawmaker, who sought the mayoralty in the elections in May, was supposed to be up against incumbent Carlwyn “Awin” Baldo and Vice Mayor Victor Perete.
Baldo, who was tagged as the mastermind behind the killing, was issued a subpoena last week after authorities ordered his removal of police security and confiscation of firearms.
The police filed double murder and six counts of frustrated murder charges against Baldo and his six alleged accomplices — Henry Yuson, Rolando Arimaldo, Danilo Muella, Christopher Naval, Emmanuel Rosello, and Haywin Babor.
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