Mayor faces raps for Batocabe slay
Credit to Author: ROY NARRA| Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2019 16:41:28 +0000
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday filed murder and frustrated murder charges against Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, who was tagged as the mastermind in the assassination of AKO Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe in December last year.
The Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Batocabe filed double murder and six counts of frustrated murder charges against Baldo and several others before the Albay Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for the death of the lawmaker and his security aide, SPO1 Orlando Diaz
PNP chief Oscar Albayalde identified the other suspects as Henry Yuson alias Romel/Eno, Rolando Arimado alias RR, Emmanuel Rosello alias Boboy, Jaywin Babor alias Jie, Danilo Muella alias Manoy Dan, and Christopher Naval alias Tuping.
Albayalde said Naval, Baldo’s security aide, executed an extrajudicial confession after he surrendered to authorities on Dec. 30, 2018.
He added that Emmanuel Bonita Judavar alias Jude, one of those who planned the assassination, came forward and spilled his knowledge of the plot to police authorities.
Judavar said, he initially joined the planning but he backed out when the plot was about to be carried out.
Based on Naval and Judavar’s accounts, Yuson, a former New People’s Army (NPA) rebel, shot Batocabe. Arimado, a rebel returnee, served as his lookout .
Roselli, a former Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) member, and Babor, a former soldier, served as drivers of the getaway motorcycles.
Muella, a former technical sergeant in the 97th Military Intelligence Company of the 9th Infantry Division, purchased the pistols used, while Naval, a former member of the Philippine Army, bought the motorcycles in Camalig, Albay under the assumed name of Abelardo Castillo.
The two said Yuson, Arimado, Roselli, Babor and Muella are part of a private armed group employed by Baldo.
Naval said the plan to assassinate Batocabe was hatched in August last year after the lawmaker announced his plans to run for mayor of Daraga.
Baldo allegedly offered P5 million for the job to kill Batocabe. He paid an initial amount of P250,000 which the group used to purchase guns and motorcycles.
Rosello was arrested on Thursday by police operatives in Daraga, Albay. The motorcycle he used in the assassination was seized.
Baldo and the other suspects are at large.
Chief Supt. Amado Corpus, director of the Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG), said Judavar was a credible witness since his story matches that of Naval’s.
Albayalde said officials would discuss if the P50 million bounty offere by several members of the House of Representatives and local officials for the arrest of Batocabe’s killers would be given to Judavar. They will also discuss if he is qualified for the government’s witness protection program.
The PNP chief said they consider the case “solved but not closed.”
Albayalde said he asked the Department of Justice to order the issuance of immigration lookout bulletins against Baldo and the other suspects.
He also ordered the revocation of Baldo’s firearms licenses and permit to carry firearms outside residence and recommended to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) the removal of his deputation over the local police of Daraga.
“This is a victory of the rule of law in this country. This is also a stern warning against those unscrupulous politicians who will resort to violence to gain elected position. The long arms of the law will eventually catch on you,” Albayalde said.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año commended the PNP solving the case.
“We will convene the National Police Commission which I chair to revoke the mayor’s authority over the officers and men of the Daraga Police Station,” he said.
Last week, Baldo denied his involvement in the killing of Batocabe, who was gunned down on Dec. 22, 2018 after distributing gifts to senior citizens and disabled persons.
Baldo, however, denied involvement in the killing.
“In our quest for justice, let us avoid committing injustice. I assert my innocence,” Baldo said in a video posted on Facebook.
“Let us not forget that while I am being used as scapegoat, those truly responsible for the crime remain free and nameless,” he added. “I am an easy target but that does not make me guilty of the crime. I am already being persecuted in the courts of public opinion.”
Substitution
Justin Batocabe, the eldest son of the slain lawmaker, thanked the PNP for solving the case.
“It helps us psychologically but killing someone for money, for political position, that is something that we will never accept,” the younger Batocabe said.
He said his mother Gertie was being urged to replace her husband in the upcoming mayoral election.
“Under the law, only a Batocabe can substitute for my father so by that, the pool is already limited. I can confirm that there are calls for my mother to substitute for my father but as of the moment, we are still discussing as to how we will make the substitution but it is certain that we will substitute him,” he said.
Justin said the NPA could not have killed his father.
“There were two possible angles. One was the NPA angle, the other was political. The NPA angle, I don’t believe it because, first and foremost, the NPA denied it,” he said in a television interview.
“Usually in those cases they would say, ‘Yes we did it,’ because it’s a feather in their cap. Then they denied it so I’ll have to believe that,” he said.
WITH MA. REINA LEANNE C. TOLENTINO
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