PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac confirmed on Wednesday, September 4, that former Daraga town mayor Carlwyn Baldo has posted bail amounting to P8.7 million.
Baldo has been charged with double murder and six counts of attempted murder over the killing of Ako-Bicol Partylist Representative Rodel Batocabe and his aide in December 2018.
Banac said Baldo’s release order is still in process.
Meanwhile, Bicol Regional Police Office Director Arnel Escobal said Baldo cannot be released pending the resolution of a motion filed by the PNP against his allowance to post bail.
"The motion must be resolved first before Baldo could be released," he said.
On August 29, a Legazpi court granted Baldo’s petition to bail reportedly after the prosecution failed to present enough evidence that would warrant the junking of the motion.
It also noted Baldo’s absence from the scene during the killing as well as the empty shells which were found at the scene that did not match the firearms recovered in Baldo’s residence during a raid on January 22, 2019.
Baldo was accused of being the mastermind in the killing of Batocabe and his aide.
He was implicated by six suspects who had admitted involvement in the crime and claimed that Baldo paid them to execute Batocabe.
Batocabe was challenging Baldo's reelection bid when he was murdered. (SunStar Philippines)