Daraga Mayor Baldo, tagged in Batocabe slay, surrenders

MANILA, Philippines (Update 2, 11:57 a.m.) — Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, believed to be the mastermind behind the killing of Rep. Rodel Batocabe (AKO Bicol party-list) surrendered Friday to authorities.

News5 initially reported that Baldo surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

JUST IN | Sumuko na sa CIDG Bicol si Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo. Siya ang mastermind umano sa pagpatay kay AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe.

Nakatakda ang arraignment ni Baldo sa katapusan ng May. pic.twitter.com/tlZIIRKPwn

— News5 AKSYON (@News5AKSYON) May 10, 2019

State-run PTV4 reported that the Daraga town mayor turned himself in to the hands of the court earlier Friday. He was accompanied by his family and lawyer.

On Monday, Legazpi City Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Judge Maria Theresa Loquillano issued a warrant against Baldo for double murder and attempted murder charges over the killing of Batocabe and his aide on Dec. 22, 2018.

The STAR reported that Lt. Col. Rodelon Betita, Daraga police chief, said his men failed to serve the warrants either at the mayor’s office or his residence as of 5 p.m. of Monday, May 7.

Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde earlier this year said suspects and evidence point to Baldo as the brains behind the killing.

“The group that killed Batocabe and [Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando] Diaz is a private armed group employed by the mayor that is involved in contract killing as a gun for hire syndicate,” Albayalde said in a press briefing, January 3.

Baldo had earlier decried allegations of his link in the congressman’s killing.

Batocabe was a candidate for Daraga mayor in the 2019 polls, when he was shot during a gift-giving event last year.

Running in the slain congressman's stead for the coming elections is his widow, Gertie Batocabe.

The PTV4 report said that Baldo would be committed at the Legazpi City Jail. His arraignment is set on May 30.