Palace condemns slay of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe

FILE: Secretary Salvador Panelo’s Press Briefing (Photo screengrabbed from PCOO)

MANILA — Malacañang condemned the killing of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort, SPO1 Orlando Diaz, in Albay on Saturday afternoon.

“We denounce the senseless killing of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe in Albay this afternoon,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo said Malacañang expressed condolences to Batocabe’s family and colleagues in the House of Representatives.

“The Palace likewise expresses its deep condolences to his bereaved family, his loved ones, as well as his friends and colleagues in Congress during this moment of great grief,” Panelo said.

Panelo, meanwhile, assured that authorities are investigating Batocabe’s murder and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Philippine National Police Director General Chief Oscar Alayalde echoed the Palace’s statement and is set to form a special investigation task group to probe the incident.

“I have directed the creation of a Special Investigation Task Group to mobilise all available resources and to orchestrate all aspects of investigation to ensure that justice is served as soon as possible to both the victims and their families,” Albayalde said in a statement.

Albayalde also appealed to the public to report to the police any information that could point them to the perpetrators and help solve the case.

Like Panelo, he also expressed sympathy to Batocabe’s family and vowed to get to the bottom of the incident.

Batocabe was running for mayor of Daraga in next year’s midterm elections.

Reports showed that Batocabe was shot by a still unidentified suspect around 3 p.

m. while attending a gift-giving event for senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Barangay Burgos in Daraga, Albay.

Batocabe and his escort were brought to a nearby hospital in Legazpi City but were later pronounced dead.

According to his partylist website, Batocabe was Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, and member of the House Electoral Tribunal, Joint Congressional Power Commission, Health, Games and Amusement, Justice, Ways and Means, Energy, Natural Resources, Legislative Franchises, Housing and Urban Development, Tourism, and Transportation. (with reports from Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)