One of two gunmen accused of killing a partylist congressman last month has surrendered to authorities
and admitted his participation, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde
announced yesterday.
Henry Yuson, alias “Romel” and “Eno,” gave himself up to elements of the Philippine Army in Sorsogon Thursday just hours after Albayalde tagged him along with the other members of the gun-for-hire syndicate responsible for the murder of Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe last Dec. 22 in Barangay Burgos, Daraga, Albay.
Albayalde said Yuson, a former communist rebel, confessed that he was the one who pulled the trigger that killed the congressman and his security escort, SPO2 Orlando Diaz.
On Thursday, Albayalde said Yuson allegedly used a caliber .40 pistol. It was not clear how many times Yuson shot the victims but 11 fired cartridge cases were found at the crime scene.
Yuson’s surrender was earlier confirmed by Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, director of PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, named by the PNP as the alleged mastermind, has been charged with double murder and multiple frustrated homicide along with Yuson and six other suspects.
On Thursday, Albayalde said Baldo offered P5 million to the gun-for-hire group. An initial payment of P250,000 was allegedly for the purchase of guns and motorcycles.
Baldo has strongly denied the accusations, saying he was made a “convenient scapegoat.”
Yuson is now under the custody to the Albay Provincial Police Office and CIDG-Bicol.
Two other suspects – Christopher Naval, a discharged Army soldier accused of forming the kill team, surrendered last Dec. 30 while Emmanuel Rosello, alias “Buboy,” is also under police custody.
The successful pursuit operations against Naval and Rosello were made possible by the testimony of Emmanuel Judavar, alias “Jude,” a former associate of Baldo who came forward and identified all the suspects.
Albayalde said Judavar was initially included in the assassination plot but backed out on the day of the plan after Baldo refused his request for an “advanced payment” for his sick wife and child.
Albayalde said police are now hot on the trail of three suspects still at large – Rolando Arimado, alias “RR,” a rebel returnee who served as the backup gunman; Jaywin Babor, alias “Jie,” an ex-Army man and one of the two drivers of the get-away motorcycles; and Danilo Muella, alias “Manoy Dan,” reported to be a former technical sergeant
in the 97th Military Intelligence Company of the 9th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, who secured the guns used in the killing.
The plan to kill Batocabe was initially hatched sometime in August after the lawmaker announced in public his bid for the mayor of Daraga, Albayalde said. (Martin Sadongdong)
