The Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating the possible link of the discovery of two cadavers and the robbery on the house of another partylist representative to the assassination of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the investigators are taking interest on the discovery of two cadavers in Daraga town of Albay where Batocabe was killed a day after the solon’s assassination.
“The possible link is being investigated. There are speculations that the cadavers could be the assailants and that they too were executed,” said Albayalde.
“But this is just speculation, along with the possible link of the robbery on the house of another congressman from the same party-list group. Napakaano naman ito kung coincidence na tinatawag. Kailangan talaga maimbestigahan malalim itong pangyayari ito,” he added.
It was recalled that a day also after the killing of Batocabe, unidentified men ransacked the house of party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin and took away cash and personal belongings.
Both Batocabe and Garbin belong to the same party-list group, Ako Bicol, which is connected to a wealthy businessman based in Albay.
The businesses of the rich trader has been reportedly the target of extortion activities of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in the provinces of Sorsogon, Albay and Camarines Sur.
Albayalde himself admitted that the initial investigation points to the involvement of the communist rebels in the assassination of Batocabe.
“There is information that the local NPA has been demanding revolutionary tax… there is information that they (local NPA) were mad that they have not receiving money. But this is still subject for verification, these are intelligence reports,” said Albayalde.
“But it (NPA involvement) is just one (angle), we are also looking into politics as another,” he added.
SACKED
Earlier, the chief of police of Daraga town and the provincial director of Albay were relieved to give way to a full-blown investigation.
Albayalde said the local chief of the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) was also relieved over reports that there was an order to recall the police escorts of Batocabe before the killing.
“We are also conducting investigation on the local PSPG head because we received information that the police escorts of Cong. Batocabe were being recalled. So we want to know why,” said Albayalde.
Albayalde earlier ordered the creation of a Special Investigation Task Group that would look into the killing of Batocabe.
But the official said he had already ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to also look into the matter.
The SITG is currently headed by Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal, director of the Bicol regional police.
SUSPECTS
Police officials in Albay have reportedly taken statements from the six people who were wounded in the attack on Batocabe during the gift-giving ceremony for senior citizens and persons with disability.
As a result, there were six persons of interest who were identified.
It was learned that police investigators also took the CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) footages in all the roads and areas near the gift-giving site for possible identification of the gunmen. (Aaron Recuenco)
