Baldo eludes arrest; manhunt on
Credit to Author: RHAYDZ B. BARCIA, TMT| Date: Mon, 06 May 2019 16:15:36 +0000
THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (DILG) and the Daraga Police serving the arrest warrant for murder against Mayor Carlwyn Baldo of Daraga, Albay are enforcing a manhunt after they failed to find him at his house in Barangay Tagas on Monday afternoon.
The police team led by Police Supt. Rodelon Betita, Daraga Police chief, with the members of the media waited for more than an hour outside the Baldo family compound before they were allowed entry.
Baldo’s lawyer, Merito Lovenzky Fernandez, accompanied the arresting team to the second floor of the house, and Bebita was allowed to check the bedroom and other parts of the house, but the suspect was not found.
Fernandez told members of the media and the police team that Baldo was in a meeting, but his wife, Romella Apuli Baldo, said her husband was out campaigning.
Baldo’s wife told The Manila Times that her husband intended to surrender as soon as they receive the arrest warrant, but were surprised that it was released on Monday, with the election only one week away.
The Legaspi Regional Trial Court Branch 10 issued the warrant against Baldo for multiple murder and attempted murder charges for allegedly plotting the murder of Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his security escort Police Master Sgt. Orlando Diaz on Dec. 22, 2018.
Batocabe was supposed to challenge Baldo, a reelectionist, in the mayoral position of Daraga in the May 13 elections.
Daraga was also put under Commission on Elections control after the killing.
Baldo denied the accusations against him, saying he was just being used as a scapegoat of the real suspect behind the murder.
But his claim was disputed by six other suspects in the crime, who pointed at him as the mastermind in separate testimonies.
Baldo is also facing administrative charges before the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
WITH A REPORT FROM ROY D.R. NARRA
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