Killing of Rep. Rodel Batocabe

Lawyer Justin Batocabe expresses dismay that former Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, tagged as the mastermind in the murder of his father and Ako Bicol party-list representative Rodel Batocabe will be allowed to post bail.

"Pinaghalu-halong galit, panlulumo, at pagkagimbal ang nararamdaman ngayon ng aming pamilya sa kautusan ng Legazpi City RTC Branch 10  na palayain si Carl 'Awin' Baldo," the younger Batocabe says.

"Ang murder charges laban kay Baldo ay non-bailable kaya’t matinding dagok ang kautusang ito sa aming pamilya, sa alaala ng aking ama, at sa mga taong nananalig sa sistema ng hustisya sa Pilipinas," he adds.

Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo was rushed to the hospital Tuesday night for asthma, state-run Radyo Pilipinas reports.

Baldo was arrested earlier Tuesday after police executing a search warrant found unlicensed firearms and explosives in his house.

Radyo Pilipinas says the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has confirmed that Baldo was brought to the UST hospital in nearby Legazpi City past 11 p.m. 

Baldo, who has been accused of being behind the killing of Rep. Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol party-list) is being guarded by police while he recovers.

Batocabe was a candidate for mayor of Daraga in the May elections.

Police arrest Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo after firearms and ammunition were recovered inside his residence. Police say he failed to show necessary permits.

A party-list solon urges the Department of Justice to issue a hold departure order against Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo after he was identified by the police as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Rep. Rodel Batocabe. 

"Now that the murder and frustrated murder charges have been filed against the Daraga mayor, the DOJ has enough basis to have the hold departure order issued against him," Rep. Francisco Datol Jr. (Senior Citizen party-list) says in a statement.

Authorities release facial composite sketches of two of the several suspects in the murder of Rep. Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol party-list).

The STAR reporter Emmanuel Tupas posted the sketch of the suspects on Twitter. The suspect driving the motorcycle is described to be in his 40s while investigators are still determining the participation of the other suspect.

Facial composite sketches of two of several suspects in the murder of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe. Person in his 40s on the left side is driver of a motorcyle while investigators are still determining participation of the other suspect pic.twitter.com/4LdCMRQq9x

— manny tupas (@manueltupas) December 28, 2018

The National Bureau of Investigation will assist police in the investigation into the killing of Rep. Rodel Batocabe (AKO Bicol) and his police escort, the Department of Justice says.

"Initial investigation by NBI agents suggests that the attack was likely politically motivated," Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete also says, adding the NBI will conduct a thorough inspection of the crime scene soon.

Superintendent Benito Dipad, chief of the Daraga (Albay) Police Station, has been relieved from duty after the ambush of Rep. Rodel Batocabo (AKO Bicol) on Saturday.

JUST IN |  Daraga Police Station chief Supt. Benito Dipad has been relieved from post  following the ambush of Rep. Rodel Batocabe on Saturday, according to the PIO of Bicol PNP. pic.twitter.com/0qjChM2QCQ

— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) December 23, 2018

Sen. Nancy Binay has also called on the Commission on Elections to declare Albay an election hostpot over the shooting of Batocabe and his security escort. 

Batocabe's killing happened hours after former Kadingilan, Bukidnon Mayor Joelito Talaid, 43, was shot dead at 9:45 a.m. He was killed by an assailant onboard a motorcycle as he was alighting his vehicle to buy fruits at Barangay Carmen in Cagayan de Oro, reports said.

Malacañang denounces the killing of Rep. Rodel Batocabe (AKO Bicol party-list) and says it will leave no stone unturned in bringing perpetrators to justice.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo also extends condolences to the family of the killed congressman.

Rep. Rodel Batocabe (AKO Bicol party-list) has been reportedly shot dead while attending a gift giving program in Brgy. Burgos, Daraga, Albay.

Reports say Batocabe — who was running for mayor of Daraga, Albay in the 2019 midterm elections and was serving his last term as congressman — was rushed to the hospital with his escort, SPO1 Orlando Diaz, but the two were pronounced dead on arrival.