House probe on P35 million Batocabe bounty set

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — The House committee on public accounts will conduct an inquiry into the disbursement of the P35 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of the suspects in the killing of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort last December.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said retired Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde and PNP officer-in-charge Archie Francisco Gamboa were among those invited to the hearing tomorrow.

Prosecution witnesses Emmanuel Judavar, Danilo Muella, Christopher Naval, Jerwin Babor and Emmanuel Rosello as well as their lawyer Joefrey Botor were also invited.

Garbin said the committee has yet to evaluate if the hearing will be conducted in an executive session should PNP officials request for it.

Garbin said they only wanted an accounting of the money, P20 million of which came from Malacañang, P13 million from the House of Representatives and P2 million from the Albay provincial government.

“We are not concluding anything yet. We have to listen to the explanations,” he said.

Garbin said the investigation is only in aid of legislation and aims to determine if there is a need to review the laws on state witness protection and the giving of rewards.

Former Daraga mayor Carlwyn Baldo is facing murder charges in connection with the killing of Batocabe. The murder plot was reportedly hatched when the victim announced his plan to run for mayor of Daraga.