Daraga mayor tagged in Batocabe slay arrested for illegal firearms possession
MANILA, Philippines — Authorities on Tuesday arrested Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, the prime suspect in the killing of Rep. Rodel Batocabe (AKO Bicol party-list) after alleged unlicensed firearms were found inside his residence.
Reports said Baldo was arrested during the implementation of a search warrant by the police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
A witness and six suspects tagged Baldo as the mastermind in the killing of Batocabe, who was running for mayor in the 2019 polls.
Batocabe and his bodyguard SPO 2 Rolando Diaz were shot dead during a gift-giving activity for senior citizens and persons with disabilities last December 22.
The alleged gunman, Henry Yuson, claimed he was offered P5 million to have Batocabe assassinated so Baldo could keep his post as mayor of Daraga.
But Baldo earlier denied that he had a hand in the congressman’s killing.
He claimed that he is being used as an “easy target but that does not make me guilty of the crime.”
“I assert my innocence. Let us not forget that while I’m being used as convenient scapegoat, those who are truly responsible for the crime remain free and blameless,” he said early January. — Gaea Katreena Cabico
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