Albay police chief fired after Batocabe slay

MANILA, Philippines — The provincial police chief of Albay was relieved from his post after the death of Rep. Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol party-list) on Saturday.

Radio reports said Senior Superintendent Milo Pagtalunan would be replaced by Police Superintendent Dennis Reduta Rellata as the acting director starting Monday.

On Sunday, Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde also ordered the relief from office of Chief Superintendent Benito Dipad, police chief of Daraga, Albay, following the ambush of Batocabe.

READ: PNP relieves Daraga police chief after Batocabe slay

Superintendent Dennis Balla will reportedly serve as acting Daraga police chief.

Administrative relief is not the same as separation from service.

On Saturday, Batocabe and his 52-year-old police escort SPO1 Orlando Diaz were shot dead by unidentified assailants in the remote Barangay Burgos in Daraga, Albay.

Batocabe attended a gift-giving event for senior citizens and persons with disabilities held in a covered basketball court of Burgos Elementary School when two masked men shot them at close-range.

The solon succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds while he was being treated in a local hospital while his police aide was dead on the spot.

Batocabe, a three-term party-list representative, was vying for the mayoral post in Daraga. —Rosette Adel