Police on Thursday tagged Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the mastermind behind the assassination of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort last month.
The Philippine National Police said the local chief executive contracted former communist rebels, soldiers, and militiamen to kill Batocabe for P5 million.
Director General Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief, said cases of double murder and six counts of frustrated murder in connection with the wounding of six civilians have been filed against Baldo and six others before the prosecutor’s office of Albay.
“I am pleased to announce a major breakthrough in the investigation of the murder of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his security escort, SPO2 Orlando Diaz, in Barangay Burgos, Daraga, Albay on Dec. 22, 2018,” said Albayalde in a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“From all indications as revealed by the suspects and witnesses, and physical evidence gathered by the police, the group that killed Batocabe and Diaz is a private armed group employed by the mayor that is involved in contract killing as a gun-for-hire syndicate,” he added.
Aside from Baldo, charged were Henry Yuson, alias “Romel” and “Eno”; Rolando Arimado, alias “RR”; Emmanuel Rosello, alias “Boboy”; Jaywin Babor, alias “Jie”; Christopher Cabrera Naval, alias “Tuping”; and Danilo Muella, alias “Manoy Dan.”
Yuson and Arimado are former communist rebels while Babor, Tuping, and Muello are former members of the military based in Bicol. Rosello, on the other hand, is a former militiaman.
“They are all employed as confidential staff of the Office of the Municipal Mayor of Daraga, Albay with a monthly income of P7,000,” said Albayalde.
Of the seven suspects, only two of them are under police custody – Rosillo and Naval – who were forced to surrender after they were confronted by the police over their participation on the killing of Batocabe.
The rest, Albayalde said, remain at large and will be hunted down by the police as soon as the arrest warrant is issued, including Baldo.
Batocabe was gunned down during a gift-giving ceremony in Daraga on Dec. 22, along with his police escort, SPO2 Orlando Diaz. A total of P50 million was raised as reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the mastermind, including P20 million from President Duterte.
Police had said local politics is the strongest motive since Batocabe had declared that he would run for mayor of Daraga since he was on his last term as a party-list representative.
Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, director of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said that they were able to get a good lead on the Batocabe assassination after they located Emmanuel Judavar who used to work as staff of Baldo.
“He is one our persons of interest on the case. When our intelligence operatives summoned him, he voluntarily gave his confession,” said Corpus.
Corpus said Judavar was a former military man and was actually involved in the initial planning to kill Batocabe. It was Judavar, according to Corpus, who identified the rest of those involved in the planning.
The revelation of Judavar led police to Naval and Rosello, who both yielded the motorcycles they used as getaway vehicles when the police chanced upon them.
Albayalde said that shortly after Naval was cornered by the police, he immediately gave his extrajudicial confession about his knowledge on the killing of Batocabe.
Naval, who was a discharged Army serviceman who once served with the military intelligence unit of the 9th Infantry Division in Bicol, is working as trusted aide of Baldo. He surrendered on Rizal Day.
Judavar told the police that the plot to kill Batocabe was hatched as early as August last year when he declared his intention to run for mayor of Daraga. Batocabe was then subjected to surveillance, including the analysis of his movements.
“According to Naval, Mayor Baldo allegedly offered P5 million for the hit job on Batocabe sometime in September 2018 and paid an initial amount of P250,000 to Tuping and his group for the purchase of guns and motorcycles,” said Albayalde.
“Naval’s team is composed mostly of former military, paramilitary personnel, and NPA rebels who are presently employed under fictitious names as confidential staff of the Office of the Mayor,” he added.
Naval purchased two motorcycles in the adjacent town of Camalig under the name “Abelardo Castillo.” Muella, on the other hand, obtained two homemade .45 caliber pistols. Muella is reportedly a former technical sergeant in the 97th Military Intelligence Company of the 9th Infantry Division.
“According to Naval and Judavar, the first attempt on Batocabe was during the congressman’s routine engagements at radio station dzJB and Hotel Venezia in Legazpi City, a pattern that was observed by the group in its casing and surveillance on Batocabe,” said Albayalde.
The opportunity to kill Batocabe came on Dec. 22 during a gift-giving ceremony in Daraga for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Yuson allegedly served as the main gunman while Arimado was the back-up gunman.
Yuson is a former communist rebel who was arrested by the military and later decided to join the government paramilitary force. Arimado is a rebel returnee.
Rosello and Babor served as the drivers of the motorcycles used as getaway vehicles for the gunmen.
Baldo is a member of a political clan in Albay, particularly in Camalig. His two siblings are currently the mayor and vice mayor of Camalig.
Baldo ran and won as vice mayor of Daraga during the 2016 elections after serving as mayor in his hometown in Camalig.
In May last year, he was appointed as mayor of Daraga after Mayor Gerry Jaucian succumbed to lung cancer.
Baldo filed his Certificate of Candidacy as mayor of Daraga, a first class municipality in Albay which is adjacent to the province’s capital Legazpi City.
Albayalde disclosed that Baldo has a history of plotting against a political enemy he deems as a stumbling block to his political ambitions.
Quoting intelligence reports, Baldo also allegedly plotted to liquidate Jaucian to enable him to become the mayor of Daraga. Jaucian, however, was already diagnosed with cancer and later died last year.
Sources said Batocabe is a popular candidate and is deemed as a potential winner for Daraga in the midterm elections in May.
Aside from gaining popularity as partylist representative, Batocabe reportedly has the backing of a wealthy businessman based in Bicol who is also the main architect behind the success of the Ako Bicol party-list group.
Albayalde yesterday ordered the revocation of gun privileges for Baldo. “Immediately effective today, I have ordered the revocation of firearms licenses and Permit to Carry Firearms Outside Residence of Mayor Baldo and has recommended the removal of his deputation over the local police of Daraga, Albay,” said Albayalde.
Albayalde said they consider the Batocabe slay solved but not case closed since most of the suspects remain in hiding. “We also do not know if there is or there are people higher than Mayor Baldo. The investigation is still on-going,” said Albayalde.
Albayalde had created a special investigation task group led by Bicol police director Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal. He also tapped the CIDG to help in the conduct of the investigation.
“This is a victory of the rule of law in this country. This is also a stern warning against those unscrupulous politicians who will resort to violence to gain elected position. The long arms of the law will eventually catch on you,” said Albayalde.
