House completes P13-M share in Batocabe slay bounty, turns over reward to PNP
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2019 11:09:38 +0000
SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday led the turnover to the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the P8-million cash reward, the balance of the P13-million bounty, which the House of Representatives promised to raise for information that would lead to the arrest of suspects in the killing of AKO Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe.
“We already gave P5 million last week, today we already gave P8 million,” said Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Alfredo Benitez who, with AKO Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., and Leyte 1st District Rep. Yedda Romualdez, accompanied Arroyo in handing over the money to PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde.
A total of 197 congressmen pledged to donate a minimum of P30,000 each to help in catching the killers of their slain colleague.
The government promised a P50-million bounty, broken down into P13 million from the House, P15 million from the AKO Bicol Party-list, P2 million from the provincial government of Albay, and P20 million from President Rodrigo Duterte.
Garbin said the reward from the party-list and the Albay provincial government would be handed over to the witnesses once the case has been solved. AKO Bicol will give its share in tranches, while Albay will give its share upon the conviction of the suspects.
“What remains is P15 million from AKO Bicol and P2 million from the province of Albay. So I think that’s substantial enough para kung may pangangailangan ang mga witness ay mapunan yung kanilang pangangailangan kasama ng kanilang pamilya (so that we can provide aid to the needs of the witness and his family),” Garbin said.
“We are put in a situation where we need the participation of key witnesses in the preliminary investigation. They are also needed during the trial proper so they can take the witness stand and tell the truth. We will give the final tranche once the conviction of the trial court has been made,” Garbin said.
Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, the prime suspect in the killing, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon after authorities seized unlicensed firearms inside his residence.
Police previously filed double murder and six counts of frustrated murder charges against Baldo and his six alleged cohorts Henry Yuson, Rolando Arimaldo, Danilo Muella, Christopher Naval, Emmanuel Rosello, and Haywin Babor.
Batocabe was supposed to be up against Baldo and Daraga Vice Mayor Victor Perete in the 2019 mayoralty elections.
Batocabe and his police escort, Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando Diaz, were killed on December 22 after attending a gift-giving program for senior citizens at Barangay Burgos in Daraga, Albay. GLEE JALEA
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