Baldo urged to surrender

Another House member is prodding embattled Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo to turn himself in.

According to Kabayan Party-List Rep. Ron Salo, Baldo should promptly surrender once the court issues a warrant of arrest against him.

“[Mayor Baldo should] not resist arrest or stage any political gimmick like barricading himself in his office to prevent the court and the police from executing the warrant of arrest. It is before the court where he must prove his innocence,” Salo, a lawyer, said in a text message.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier pointed to Baldo as the mastermind in the murder of AKO-Bicol Party-List Rep. Rodel Batocabe last Dec. 22 in Daraga. Batocabe, Baldo’s opponent in the mayoralty race this coming May, was shot dead during a gift-giving event for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

“We appeal to the Department of Justice, specifically to the prosecutor assigned to the Congressman Rodel Batocabe assassination case, to urgently ask the regional trial court to swiftly issue an arrest warrant against Mayor Carlwyn Baldo... so that the Bureau of Immigration can issue a hold departure order against the mayor instead of simply a lookout bulletin,” Salo said.

Also killed in the incident was Batocabe’s lone bodyguard, SPO2 Orlando Diaz.

Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel and Quezon City 2nd district Rep. Winston Castelo have already asked Mayor Baldo to surrender following the PNP’s rather detailed findings pinning the local executive down in the killings.