Lakas-CMD revokes Baldo’s CONA

After being tagged as the alleged mastermind in the killings of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his security aide, Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo is no longer the official candidate of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) in Daraga town, Albay mayoralty race.

In a letter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) dated January 3, 2019, the Lakas-CMD, the major political party allied with the Duterte administration, disclosed that it withdrew its Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) and support for Baldo.

In a related development, the National Police Commis-

sion, headed by Interior and Local Governments Secretary Eduardo Año, is expected to meet today to decide on the recommendation made by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strip Baldo of his power over the local police.

The PNP leadership earlier cancelled all the gun privileges extended to Baldo, who was forced to surrender all his guns.

Año said administrative cases are in the process of being filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against Baldo and added that he expects Baldo to be booted out as mayor of Daraga town.

“The administrative cases are being filed in the Ombudsman so we can request immediately the preventive suspension of the mayor,” said Año.

CONA Revoked

“Please be informed that LakasCMD is revoking the CONA issued to Mr. Baldo. Hence, Mayor Baldo is no longer the official candidate of LakasCMD for the position of Mayor of Daraga,” Lakas-CMD Executive Director Atty. Bautista “Butch” Corpin, Jr. said in his letter to Comelec Law Department Director Maria Norina T. Casingal.

“Regretfully, Mayor Baldo has been nominated as the official candidate of LAKAS-CMD for Mayor of Daraga, Albay. After deliberations, LAKAS-CMD has decided to revoke the nomination of Mayor Baldo as the official candidate of the party,” the Lakas-CMD said in a statement.

It said copies of Corpin’s letter revoking Baldo’s nomination were also sent to the Provincial Election Supervisor and Municipal Election Officer of Albay and Daraga, respectively.

The party said it is also committed to ensure honest, clean, accurate, meaningful and peaceful May 13, 2019 midterm elections amid the expected intense rivalries of candidates.

It considered the right of Filipinos to choose their own leaders as the bedrock of democracy.

“Thus, Lakas-CMD strongly condemns the killings of Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Rodel Batocabe and his security aide. Violence in any form and for whatever reason has no place in our democratic institutions,” the Lakas-CMD said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) filed double murder and frustrated murder charges against Baldo and his alleged cohorts in Albay.

Batocabe, who is running for mayor in the Daraga town, and his security escort, SPO1 Orlando Diaz were shot dead last December 22 at Brgy. Burgos, Daraga, Albay during a gift giving activity for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

All of the six suspects in the December 22 assassination of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort are pointing to Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the mastermind, Chief Supt. Benigno Durana, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

He said the confessions made by the six suspects are consistent with the path of the investigation being conducted by the police – that Batocabe was murdered to eliminate competition in the mayoralty race for Daraga town in Albay in next year’s midterm elections.

“They gave their testimonies separately and on separate occasions, one thing stood out in their revelations. The fact they are only pointing to one mastermind,” said Durana.

The PNP got a good lead in the probe while pursuing the political angle of the murder when they tried their luck on Emmanuel Judavar whom they know to be part of the security team of Baldo.

When the probers met with Judavar, they found out that the latter had already severed his ties with Baldo and was afraid of becoming the next target after the killing of Batocabe.

It was then that the investigators found out that Judavar was part of the plan hatched as early as August last year to kill Batocabe after the latter announced his mayoralty bid.

Judavar’s confession was backed by Christopher Naval, the chief security aide of Baldo, who surrendered to authorities. Naval allegedly confessed to buying the two motorcycles used as getaway vehicles by the gunmen – Henry Yuson and Rolando Arimado.

Danilo Muella, who provided the two guns; Emmanuel Rosello, the driver of one of the two motorcycles; and, the other driver Jaywin Babor, all corroborated the testimony of Judavar and Naval.

‘Onsehan’

Baldo reportedly offered R5 million for the hit on Batocabe and gave an initial 250,000 to obtain all the materials needed for the assassination.

The gunman, Yuson, told the police that he felt he and his team who pulled off the assassination were duped since the R4.75-million balance was never given to them.

“All of those involved felt that they were double-crossed. The fact that they were not also professional hitmen would make them very easy to give during the investigation,” said Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano.

Durana said the confessions they got from those who participated made their case an airtight one.

“It’s now up to the court to appreciate all the pieces of evidence that we have submitted but we are quite confident that we have solved the case,” said Durana.

He said they are now waiting for the decision of the court for the possible issuance of an arrest warrant.