Daraga mayor Carlwyn Baldo's case not raffled to Legazpi RTC 1

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — The cases for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives filed against Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo were not raffled to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 1 in this city, its acting judge clarified in a letter to The STAR.

Ligao RTC Branch 14 Judge Edwin Ma-alat said he was named acting presiding judge of RTC 1 after its judge retired. He said RTCs with acting judges are exempted in the raffle of new cases.

“I had no opportunity to inhibit from the Baldo cases since they were never assigned to me for the above reason,” Ma-alat said in a letter sent to The STAR.

He said RTC Branch 2 is also exempted from the raffle because it is being handled by an acting presiding judge.

The Camarines Sur prosecutor’s office issued a resolution on Feb. 22 finding probable cause to file charges against Baldo after a gun, bullets and ammunition for a grenade launcher were seized during a raid on his house on Jan. 22.

Baldo is the alleged mastermind in the killing of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Batocabe. The complaints are still under preliminary investigation.