Police eye 6 suspects in Batocabe killing
Credit to Author: ROY NARRA| Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2018 16:15:02 +0000
INVESTIGATORS have tagged six persons of interest in the ambush-slay of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his security aide, with local politics and a communist kill order eyed as likely motives.
Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal did not name the assailants but said some details came from an person who volunteered to give information, as well as six of the injured.
Police also examined security footage from Rosewood Inn, which was near the area of the shooting in Daraga, Albay last Saturday.
Following the ambush-slay, Senior Supt. Milo Pagtalunan, provincial director of Albay, was sacked and replaced by Supt. Dennis Rellata as officer in charge, Escobal said in a text message to The Manila Times.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde previously ordered the relief of Daraga Police Chief Supt. Benito Dipad after the ambush incident. Dipad was replaced by Supt. Dennis Balla.
Albayalde has ordered the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director, Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, to lead the investigation of Batocabe’s death.
The Bicol regional district had also formed the Special Investigation Task Group “Batocabe” to be supervised by Escobal.
Batocabe and his security escort, Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando Diaz, were killed on Saturday afternoon in Daraga after attending a gift-giving program for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The two were declared dead on arrival at Ago Medical and Educational Center Hospital, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds on their bodies.
Possible motives
Albayalde on Monday said the police were looking at politics and the involvement of the New People’s Army (NPA) as the possible motives behind the death of Batocabe.
He said Batocabe’s slay could not be counted yet as an election-related violent incident, but the police were not dismissing the possibility that the act was done in relation to the upcoming polls.
Batocabe was set to run for mayor of Daraga against the incumbent, Carlwyn “Awin” Baldo.
He also said the PNP had information that Batocabe might have been killed by members of the NPA for refusing to give them money.
“There is information that NPA members asked for revolutionary tax or extortion,” Albayalde said.
In a radio interview, Jaime “Ka Diego” Padilla, spokesman of NPA Melito Glor Command, denied that they had a hand in the death of Batocabe.
Security withdrawn?
Albayalde also said Police Supt. Charlotte Dodson Peñalosa, head of Bicol Police Security and Protection Group, had been sacked.
“We are currently investigating her because we received information that he wants to relieve Batocabe’s security detail, so we are verifying that information,” he said.
Ako Bicol party-list has demanded for the relief of Peñalosa over the ambush-slay.
Albayalde said the relief of the police officials would pave the way for an impartial investigation.
Collective outrage
Batocabe was the first congressman killed during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte. His body will be laid to rest in Daraga, Albay on December 31.
Lawmakers have pooled together a P30-million reward for anyone who could give information that could lead to the capture of the killers of Batocabe.
On Monday, members of the House condemned “in the strongest terms” the killing of Batocabe and Diaz.
“Congressman Batocabe served the Filipino nation, especially the people of Bicol well, and was one of the most hardworking members of the House of Representatives. We are calling on all law enforcement agencies to swiftly bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to the bar of justice,” the House said.
“Senseless violence and criminal depravity do not choose their victims. All are possible targets at any time or season, for which reason we urge the [PNP] to do their utmost best not only in maintaining peace but in protecting all citizens from criminal elements,” it added.
“The act of violence inflicted on Rep. Batocabe is an assault on Congress itself as an institution and those involved must not go unpunished.”
The House, in a statement, said the Justice for Batocabe-Diaz Fund would give rewards for any information that would lead to the arrest and capture of the suspects.
“We express our collective outrage not only in behalf of the family of Rep. Batocabe and SPO1 Diaz, but also in the name of all citizens who are victims of heinous crimes.”
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