Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo seeks Duterte’s help

Baldo, however, asserted his innocence, saying that he was just being used as a “convenient scapegoat.” (File photo: Awin Baldo/Facebook)

The alleged mastermind in the murder of AKO Bicol Representative Rodel Batocabe is now asking help from President Rodrigo Duterte, reiterating that he is innocent in the accusations against him.

In a press conference in his home in Daraga town on Friday, January 18, Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo told the Chief Executive, “Humihingi po ako ng tulong sa patas na hustisya. Kung ano man po ang mga inaakusa sa akin, haharapin ko po nang buong-buo (I’m asking for help for fair justice. Whatever accusations lodged against me, I will fully face it).”

“Ang hinihiling ko rin po na sana ‘wag malagay sa alanganin ang buhay ng aking pamilya (I’m also appealing that the safety of my family would not be in danger),” he continued.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier revealed that it was Baldo who ordered Batocabe, who was supposed to run as mayor in Daraga, to be killed. The six gunmen he allegedly hired, who are all now in police custody, also pointed the mayor as the brain in the lawmaker’s murder.

Baldo, however, asserted his innocence, saying that he was just being used as a “convenient scapegoat.”

[READ: Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo denies being the mastermind of Batocabe slay]

During the media conference, reporters also asked the mayor if the reports that a search warrant will be served on him were true.

In response to this, Baldo said he has not yet received such information, but if it turns out to be true, he said, “wala naman po akong tinatagong illegal dito sa bahay ko (Nothing is illegal here in my house).”

“Ang sa akin lang po, ang hinihingi ko lang, ay ‘yung tamang sistema lang ng pagsearch kasi baka mamaya, ang kinakatakot ko, baka sabihin nila na may mahanap sila na na droga o granada. Alam naman po natin na ang granada ay non-bailable [offense] (All I’m asking for is the right process of police search because I fear that they might say they found drugs or a grenade. We all know that possession of a grenade is a non-bailable offense),” he explained.

Duterte previously threatened the mastermind behind Batocabe’s killing that he will personally go to his house and ‘slap’ him.

“Ngayon, ‘pag napundi ako sa’yo, p***** i** mo babarilin kita. Kung ‘yan ang paraan lang para magkaroon tayo ng kapayapaan, na peaceful election (Now, if I have had enough of you, motherf*cker I will shoot you. If that is the only way we can have peace, a peaceful election) then do not f*** the system. Better behave,” the President had said as he also gave a warning to those candidates who will attack their political opponents just so they could win the elections.

[READ: Duterte increases bounty for the arrest of Batocabe killers to P50-million]

On January 11, the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) charged Baldo with conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and graft and corruption in connection to the congressman’s murder.

[READ: Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo charged with admin case before Ombudsman]