Sketches of Rodel Batocabe gunmen released

LEGAZPI CITY,  Philippines — Authorities yesterday released the sketches of two men involved in the killing of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort in Daraga, Albay last weekend.

One of the suspects was described as a man in his early 30s, with medium build and fair complexion, and around 5’4” to 5’6” in height. He was wearing a light brown jacket and denim shorts.

The other was the alleged driver of the getaway motorcycle. He was described as a male in his early 40s, 5’6” to 5’8” in height, dark complexioned with a scar on the right cheek. He was seen wearing a black round neck T-shirt, six-pocket denim cargo pants and black slippers. 

The two men were last seen at the site of the ambush in Barangay Burgos, Daraga, Albay where Batocabe was gunned down along with his bodyguard, SPO1 Orlando Diaz, on Dec. 22.

Regional police spokesperson Chief Insp. Malou Calubaquib said the sketches of the two men were released even as the investigation conducted by the recently formed Special Task Force Batocabe and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) went into full swing.

An NBI team investigating the killing did the two sketches.

“Facial sketches of the Batocabe killers are now being established. Also investigations are being carried out both by the police and the NBI to identify the Batocabe and Diaz’s killers,” Calubaquib said.

She added the sketches of the four other suspects are still being finalized while investigators are trying to retrieve videos and photos on Batocabe’s phone that may shed light on his killing. 

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the Philippine National Police (PNP) had secured several photos from some who were attending the gift-giving by Batocabe when he was murdered. 

Calubaquib added she personally saw some pictures that may pinpoint the assailants. She urged the people who attended the event to submit photos and videos that could help in the investigation. 

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said they have identified at least six “persons of interest” who have yet to be invited for questioning.

Albayalde added the people who were wounded in the incident have given their testimonies to police investigators.

“But we are encouraging more witnesses to come forward and help us shed light on the brutal killings,” Albayalde said.

He said the P50-million reward money is of great help to entice witnesses to come out and tell the police what they know.

On Wednesday, President Duterte sweetened the pot by offering P20 million more to the P30-million reward in the hunt for the killers of Batocabe.

Duterte visited the wake of Batocabe, alluding to “a mayor and a governor” as the possible masterminds in the killing.

Batocabe was supposed to go head-to-head with incumbent Daraga town Mayor Carlwun Baldo in the local elections on May 10, 2019.

Batocabe’s colleagues in the House of Representatives appealed to the PNP to expedite its investigation into the killing.

In making the plea, they noted that almost a week since the murder of their colleague, investigators still do not have solid leads on the perpetrators and mastermind.

“We call on the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies to hasten their investigation so that the perpetrators of this unspeakable crime could be brought to justice,” House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said.

“Days before Christmas, we were shocked and deeply saddened by the death of one of our most active and vocal colleagues, our dear congressman Rodel Batocabe. Rodel joined the minority this year and displayed his dedication to public service,” he said.

Suarez called on the PNP and the Commission on Elections to ensure the holding of honest and violence-free elections in May 2019.

“The House minority believes that there is no place for violence in the exercise of suffrage and democracy,” he said.

Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, who chairs the House committee on public order and safety, shared the minority bloc’s call.

Acop, a retired police officer, warned his former colleagues in the PNP that “delayed justice for Congressman Rodel and his security aide could embolden gun-for-hire groups to assassinate high-profile political leaders nationwide as midterm elections draw near.”

“Killers for hire might think it’s just that easy to kill political leaders. Unfortunately, criminals have taken advantage of the failure of our authorities to bring immediate justice to most of the victims of criminal activities,” he said.

An official of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also called on the government to act on the string of killings in the past months, including that of Batocabe and his security aide last week.

CHR commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, chair of the commission’s task force on extrajudicial killings, said the deaths of Batocabe and Diaz deserve the strongest condemnation as their lives were senselessly claimed allegedly due to political motivation. – Romina Cabrera, Rey Galupo, Jess Diaz, Janvic Mateo