(UPDATED) - The incumbent mayor of Daraga town in Albay has been tagged as the mastermind in the killing of Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said on Thursday, January 3.
In a press conference in Camp Crame, Albayalde said Daraga town Mayor Carlwyn Baldo was identified as the mastermind by one of the witnesses, Emmanuel Judavar, a former security aide of the slain mayor.
Cases of double murder and multiple frustrated murder were filed in Albay against Baldo and six other suspects.
“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,” said Albayalde.
He said he has ordered the revocation of firearms licenses and the Permit to Carry Firearms Outside the Residence (PTCFOR) of the mayor.
Albayalde also recommended the withdrawal of the mayor's authority over the local police of Daraga, Albay.
The PNP chief said Judavar admitted to having taken part in the planning of Batocabe's killing since August 2018, after the latter announced his plan to vie for mayoral position.
Batocabe was shot dead around 3 p.m. on December 22, 2018, during a gift-giving program with senior citizens and persons with disability in Barangay Burgos, Daraga, Albay.
His security aide, Senior Police Officer 2 Orlando Suruiz Diaz, was also killed in the incident. Seven other people attending the said event were injured.
Albayalde said Judavar identified Christopher Cabrera Naval alias Tuping, one of Baldo’s “trusted” security aides, as among those who executed the killing.
Chief Superintendent Amador Corpuz, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director, said “out of pressure” Naval surrendered to the authorities on December 30. He brought along one of the motorcycles used as a getaway vehicle.
Albayalde said Naval, who served as the conspirator, has provided investigators with relevant information surrounding the assassination of Batocabe.
“Accordingly, the plan to assassinate Batocabe was hatched sometime in August 2018 when Batocabe announced in public his bid for the mayoral post of Daraga. This was corroborated by Emmanuel Bonita Judavar who was involved in the initial planning but allegedly backed out during the actual assassination,” he said.
“Later according to Tuping, Mayor Baldo allegedly offered P5 million for the hit job on Batocabe sometime in September 2018 and paid an initial amount of P250,000.00 to Tuping and his group for the purchase of guns and motorcycles,” he added.
Naval identified the other suspects involved in the killing as Henry Yuson alias Romel, Rolando Arimado alias RR, Ammanuel Rosello alias Boboy, Jaywin Babor alias Jie and Daniel Muella alias Manoy Dan.
All were employed as confidential staff of the Office of the Municipal Mayor of Daraga, Albay, each receiving a monthly compensation of P7,000.
Naval said Yuson and Arimado served as the gunmen, Rosello and Babor as the drivers of the getaway motorcycles and Muella as a lookout.
Based on investigation, Albayalde said Naval was a discharged Army serviceman who once served with the Military Intelligence Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division stationed in Bicol region while the six other suspects were also former military, paramilitary personnel and NPA rebel returnees.
Among the suspects, Naval and Rosello are under police custody after they both voluntarily surrendered.
Judavar, meanwhile, is considered a witness, not a suspect, as he was not involved in the execution of the plan. (SunStar Philippines)