The Legazpi City Regional Trial Court Branch 10 has ordered the arrest of embattled Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo in connection with his alleged participation in the assassination of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his security escort in December 2018.
However, police failed to arrest him.
Police Col. Wilson Asueta, chief of the Albay Provincial Police Office, said Baldo was not at his home on Lakandula Drive, Barangay Tagas, Daraga when the arresting team served the warrant around 4 p.m. yesterday.
Baldo’s wife, Romela, faced police but she said she does not know where her husband was. She claimed that Baldo may have attended a campaign sortie.
Asueta vowed to exhaust all legal means to find Baldo and bring him back to jail. “He is now the subject of a manhunt operation,” Asueta said.
Police Brig. Gen. Arnel Escobal, director of the Bicol Police Regional Office, said the warrant of arrest against Baldo was issued by Legazpi RTC Branch 10 Judge Maria Theresa Loquillano.
Baldo was the pinpointed mastermind behind the murder of Batocabe and Police Senior Master Sergeant Orlando Diaz in a gift-giving activity in Barangay Poblacion, Daraga.
The killing occurred days after Batocabe announced in public that he would challenge Baldo for mayor of Daraga in the upcoming May 13 midterm elections.
Baldo along with six other members of a hit squad he allegedly formed are facing double murder charges for Batocabe and Diaz’s death. All members of the hit squad pointed to Baldo as the brains behind the assassination plot. (Martin A. Sadongdong)
