PNP accuses Daraga mayor on Batocabe killing
Assassination solved, says Albayalde; Baldo claims innocence
The Philippine National Police (PNP) claims to have solved the assassination of Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort yesterday and tagged Daraga, Albay, Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the mastermind in the 15-million hit job perpetrated by a gun-for-hire syndicate composed of former soldiers and communist rebels.
PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said cases of double murder and six counts of frustrated murder in connection with the wounding of six civilians have already been filed against Mayor Baldo and six others before the Prosecutor’s Office of Albay.
“I am pleased to announce a major breakthrough in the investigation of the murder of Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe and his security escort, SPO2 Orlando Diaz in Barangay Burgos, Daraga, Albay, on December 22, 2018,” said Albayalde in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
“From all indications as revealed by the suspects and witnesses, and physical evidence gathered by the police, the group that killed Batocabe and Diaz is a private armed group employed by the mayor that is involved in contract
killing as a gun-for-hire syndicate,” he added.
Aside from Baldo, charged were Henry Yuson, alias Romel and Eno; Rolando Arimado alias RR; Emmanuel Rosello alias Boboy; Jaywin Babor alias Jie, Christopher Cabrera Naval alias Tuping; and Danilo Muella, alias Manoy Dan.
Yuson, and Arimado are former communist rebels while Babor, Tuping, and Muello are former members of the military based in Bicol. Rosello is a former militiaman.
“They are all employed as confidential staff of the Office of the Municipal Mayor of Daraga, Albay with a monthly income of 17,000,” said Albayalde.
Of the seven suspects, only two of them are under police custody — Rosillo and Naval. They surrendered after they were confronted by the police on their participation on the killing of Batocabe.
The rest, Albayalde said, remain at large and will be hunted down by the police as soon as an arrest warrant is issued.
The eldest lawyer-son of Batocabe, Justin, was present at the media briefing.
Batocabe and his police escort, SPO2 Orlando Diaz were gunned down during a gift-giving event for the elderly and persons with disability in Daraga town last December 22.
A 150 million bounty — 120 million from President Duterte — was raised for any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.
Police eyed local politics as the strongest motive since Batocabe declared he is running for mayor of Daraga after his last term in congress.
Mayor Baldo statement
Mayor Baldo, in a statement denied any involvement in the Batocabe-Diaz twin slay.
“I assert my innocence. Let us not forget that while I am being used as a convenient scapegoat, those who are truly responsible for the crime remain free and blameless,” he stated.
Baldo stressed: “I did not order the deaths of anyone. I did not kill Cong. Batocabe and SPO2 Diaz.”
“Indeed, this is a sad, woeful day as a malicious and great power has single-handedly eclipsed justice and due process today,” said Baldo.
He added; “Daraga is still mourning the loss of two of its sons, and now it has one more reason to grieve—the death of truth and justice.”
Baldo acknowledged that he is “an easy target” but this should not be misconstrued as making him the guilty party.
“I am already being persecuted in the courts of public opinion. A trial by media is being held in front of every screen, constantly on repeat since Albayalde’s statement was released this morning. Neither of these are proof of my guilt,” he added.
Salceda is next?
“The identification of Mayor Baldo only confirms our suspicion since day one of Congressman Batocabe’s murder,” said Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin.
Garbin said the Batocabe family also shares the belief that Baldo was behind the murder of the well-loved party-list solon.
Garbin said one of the witnesses now in police custody claimed Albay Representative and former Governor Joey Salceda was next in the hit list of political assassins in Albay.
Salceda and Baldo could not be reached for comment on the reported confessions of the three witnesses.
Salceda, who served three terms as governor, is reportedly supporting the candidacy of Daraga Vice Mayor Victor Perete for mayor of the first-class municipality.
Garbin and the Batocabe family have proposed the issuance of a “watchlist bulletin” by the Department of Justice to monitor Baldo’s travels and prevent flight.
Batocabe was reportedly challenging Baldo and Perete in the 2019 mayoralty race. Before his death, the partylist lawmaker was reportedly leading poll surveys by a wide margin over his two political rivals.
The lead
Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said they were able to get a good lead on the Batocabe case after they located Emmanuel Judavar who used to work as staff of Mayor Baldo.
“He is one of our persons of interest on the case. When our intelligence operatives summoned him, he voluntarily gave his confession,” said Corpus.
Corpus said Judavar, a former military man, was involved in the initial plot to kill Batocabe.
It was Judavar, according to Corpus, who identified the rest of the suspects.
The revelation of Judavar led the police to Naval and Rosello who both yielded the motorcycles they used as getaway vehicles.
15-M contract
Albayalde said Naval executed an extrajudicial confession that shed light on what went before Batocabe’s murder.
Naval,a discharged Army soldier formerly assigned with the military intelligence unit of the 9th Infantry Division in Bicol, works as an aide of Mayor Baldo. He surrendered on December 30.
Judavar told police the plot to kill Batocabe was hatched as early as August, 2018, after he declared his intention to run for mayor of Daraga. It was then that Batocabe was subjected to surveillance and his movements were tracked.
“According to Naval, Mayor Baldo allegedly offered 15-million for the hit job on Batocabe sometime in September,2018, and paid an initial amount of 1250,000 to Tuping and his group for the purchase of guns and motorcycles,” said Albayalde.
“Naval’s team is composed mostly of former military, paramilitary personnel, and NPA rebels who are employed under fictitious names as confidential staff of the Office of the Mayor,” the PNP chief added.
It was Naval who took charge of buying two motorcycles in the adjacent town of Camalig under the name of Abelardo Castillo. Muella, on the other hand, took care of obtaining two homemade .45 pistols.
Muella is reportedly a former technical sergeant in the 97th Military Intelligence Company of the 9th Infantry Division.
“According to Naval and Judavar, the first attempt on Batocabe was during the congressman’s routine engagements at radio station dzJB and Hotel Venezia in Legazpi City, a pattern that was observed by the group in its casing and surveillance on Batocabe,” said Albayalde.
The opportunity
The opportunity to hit Batocabe came on December 22 during a giftgiving ceremony in Daraga town for the senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
It was Yuson who allegedly served as the main gunman with Arimado as the back-up gunman.
Yuson, is allegedly a former communist rebel who was arrested by the military and later decided to join the government paramilitary forces. Arimado, on the other hand, is a rebel returnee.
Both Rosello and Babor served as drivers of the motorcycles used as getaway vehicles for the gunmen.
Who is Mayor Baldo?
Baldo is a member of a political clan in Albay, particularly in the town of Camalig. His two siblings are currently the mayor and vice mayor of Camalig town. He was a known businessman before going into politics in 2007 to 2010 as board member in the second district of Albay.
Baldo ran for mayor in the 2010 elections and challenged the late Daraga Mayor Gerry Jaucian but lost to the incumbent.
In 2016, Baldo ran and won as vice mayor of Daraga. He was proclaimed mayor of Daraga in May last year after Jaucian died of heart attack.
He filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor of Daraga, a first-class municipality of Albay adjacent to the province’s capital Legazpi City.
Sources said Batocabe was a popular candidate and a potential winner as mayor in the midterm elections this year.
Batocabe reportedly had the backing of a Bicol-based businessman supporting the AKO Bicol partylist group.
After tagging Baldo in the Batocabe assassination, Albayalde ordered the revocation of gun privileges of the mayor.
“Immediately effective today (Thursday), I have ordered the revocation of firearms licenses and PTCFOR (Permit to Carry Frearms Outside Residence) of Mayor Baldo and has recommended the removal of his deputation over the local police of Daraga, Albay,” said Albayalde.
Case solved, not closed
While considering the Batocabe slay as solved, Albayalde said they do not still consider the case closed since most of the suspects remain at large.
“We also do not know if there is or there are people higher than Mayor Baldo. The investigation is still ongoing,” said Albayalde.
Albayalde had earlier created a special investigation task group led by Bicol regional police director Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal. He also tapped the CIDG to help in the conduct of the investigation.
“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 arm of the law will eventually catch on you,” said Albayalde. (With reports from Niño N. Luces and Ellson A. Quismorio)