Batocabe Family Lauds Baldo’s Arrest

Lawyer Justine Batocabe, son of slain Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe, lauded police operatives for the arrest of Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo for illegal possession of firearms, explosive and ammunition last Tuesday.

Batocabe, in a press conference late Wednesday, said, “We are very thankful to the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Army and various agencies of government for their help in bringing justice, peace and security in the good town of Daraga and for turning the wheels of justice.”

He said the arrest of Baldo “is a triumph of every Darageño who wishes nothing but peace and order and security for our good town. We have faith in the justice system.”

“We see justice, our faith in the justice system is being repaid and we have nothing but thanks. We thank God, we thank the President, the congressmen and everybody who helped,” Batocabe added.

Baldo was arrested after members of the CIDG recovered two .45-caliber pistols, an M203 grenade ammunition, eight caliber .45 bullets, a magazine for Uzi handgun, and an M16 bullet at his residence in Barangay Tagas, Daraga town.

The mayor was tagged by police investigators as the mastermind in the killing of Rep. Batocabe and his police escort during a Christmas gift-giving event in a remote village in Daraga last December 22.

On Wednesday, however, Baldo, while in police custody, suffered an asthma attack and hypertension and was rushed to the UST Hospital in Legazpi

On Thursday, CIDG-Bicol confirmed that the town official will remain in the hospital for further examination of his health condition.

Senior Supt. Arnold Ardiente, CIDG-Bicol chief, in a text message, said, “Mayor Baldo will still undergo another test tomorrow to determine whether or not he can be discharged from the hospital”.

Baldo, he noted, was visited by PNP physicians on Thursday to check his condition.

Ardiente said they already filed charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosive under Republic Act Nos. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), and 9516 (Codifying the Laws on Illegal/Unlawful Possession of Ammunition or Explosives) against the Daraga mayor. (PNA)