Suspended Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo back in jail

MANILA, Philippines — Suspended Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, the alleged mastermind in the killing of Ako Bicol congressman Rodel Batocabe and his police escort last December, is now back in jail after he was discharged from a hospital where he had been confined for two weeks.

Chief Superintendent Arnel Escobal, Bicol region police director, said in a text message that doctors had signed the paperwork for Baldo’s discharge.

Video showed Baldo being wheeled out of the hospital last night.

Escobal said police pushed for Baldo’s transfer back to a regular police jail in Legazpi as there is no court order requiring him to stay at the hospital.

“We suggested to the (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) CIDG to bring him back to a jail,” he said in a phone interview, adding they also wanted to avoid being accused of giving Baldo special treatment.

Baldo was supposed to leave at around 4 p.m. but he stayed at the hospital until 6 p.m. as his camp first settled his medical bills.

“He is now in the regular jail at the police station in Legazpi,” Senior Superintendent Arnold Ardiente, who heads the CIDG’s Bicol field office, said.

Ardiente had belied earlier reports that there was tension at the hospital as they tried to get the local chief executive out of the facility.

He added Baldo was allowed to confer with his lawyers on the next steps he would take.

The police official, however, admitted telling Baldo another option is to bring him to the Philippine National Police General Hospital at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

“As a matter of policy, he should be confined at the PNP General Hospital or the nearest government-run hospital,” said Ardiente.

Based on the doctors’ assessment, Ardiente said Baldo could continue his medication even outside of the hospital.