Batocabe kin willing to place witness under protection
MANILA, Philippines — The family of slain Rep. Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol party-list) is willing to protect any witness that can identify the mastermind into the killing of their patriarch.
The party-list lawmaker was gunned down on Sunday while attending a gift-giving program in Daraga, Albay.
"Whoever is the least guilty but knows the full details, we are ready to forgive you, kiss your hand, place you under witness protection program. Just point out the mastermind and you will still get the cash reward," Justin Batocabe, son of the elder Batocabe, said in a televised press conference.
The younger Batocabe stressed that his father did not have political enemies when he was alive.
Asked if they have speculations on who might be behind the killing of Batocabe, the son said they would let the police run the full course of the investigation.
"We will put our faith 100 percent in the system. We are not making any conjectures or allowing emotions to rule the day. We will allow justice, facts, science to rule the day," the younger Batocabe said.
Batocabe's son, however, admitted that his father received warnings but these would not be considered as solid death threats.
Congressmen and local officials in Bicol have raised a bounty of P30 million for information leading to the arrest of the killers of Batocabe and his security escort SPO1 Orlando Diaz.
Rep. Albee Benitez (Negros Occidental) said at least 153 members of the House of Representatives have contributed for the reward money as of Sunday.
The House has 292 members, 60 of which are party-list representatives like Batocabe, who was president of the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. in the lower chamber. — Patricia Lourdes Viray
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.
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.
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