Duterte accuses solons of not delivering on vow to provide reward for Batocabe killers
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte Tuesday accused lawmakers of not delivering on their promise to provide reward money for information that would lead to the capture of the killers of Rep. Rodel Batocabe (AKO Bicol party-list).
Duterte said Congress has vowed to give P30 million for the arrest of the mastermind of the killing of the lawmaker. He said he offered to increase the reward money to P50 million.
"By the mercy of God, I was the only one who delivered the P20 (million). Congress has not done so. They are supposedly still printing the money. I gave the money immediately upon the arrest (of the suspect)," the president said.
Duterte then joked that lawmakers are like boxers with clenched fists when it comes to money.
"Congressmen are potential boxers... if there is money, they do this," Duterte said as he displayed a clenched fist.
"The money is tightly guarded. It's just a joke," he added.
Duterte then called on lawmakers to fulfill their promise and to release the reward money.
"I will look for an opportunity to remind them (lawmakers)...It (Batocabe case) was solved on record time," the president said.
Batocabe was shot dead in Daraga, Albay last December 22. The Philippine National Police has tagged Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the mastermind in the murder of the lawmaker, who was supposed to run for mayor of the town.
Baldo has denied the allegation and claimed that he was just being used as a scapegoat.
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