All 6 suspects in Batocabe slay are now with the police

FILE: Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe (Photo: AKO BICOL Party List/Facebook)

All six individuals hired allegedly by Mayor Carlwyn Baldo to kill AKO Bicol Representative Rodel Batocabe are now at the hands of the authorities.

This, after Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde announced on Saturday, January 5, that suspects Rolando Arimado alias “RR”, a former New People’s Army (NPA) rebel, and Danilo Muella alias “Manoy Dan” had surrendered themselves to the police.

“This latest development is expected to complete the puzzle in uncovering the truth behind this double murder and multiple frustrated murder case,” the top cop said.

Arimado was tagged by the PNP as the backup gunman and lookout, while Muella was reported to be the one who bought two .45-caliber pistols that were used in the assassination of Batocabe last December 22.

Arimado and Muella’s surrender came after Jaywin Babor alias “Jie,” the alleged driver of a motorcycle used by the suspects in the lawmaker’s murder, and the alleged main gunman, Henry Yuson, turned themselves in on Friday and Thursday, respectively.

Before this, the two other suspects, Christopher Naval alias “Tuping,” alleged trusted security aide of Baldo, and Emmanuel Rosello alias “Boboy,” the other driver of the getaway motorcycle, were already placed under police custody.

The key witness in Batocabe’s case, Emmanuel Judavar, who took part in the planning of the solon’s murder but backed out from the execution, is also with the cops.

Baldo, who was tagged by the PNP as the mastermind behind Batocabe’s slay, allegedly offered to pay these six individuals a reward money worth five million pesos to assassinate Batocabe.

Batocabe, who was eyeing a mayoral post in Daraga, Albay, where Baldo is the incumbent mayor, died along with his security escort, Senior Police Officer (SPO) I Orlando Diaz, after they went to a gift-giving event.

The mayor, however, did not pay the promised five million pesos to the six-man hit team, which the police said that consisted of former military and paramilitary personnel and some communist rebels,  after they killed the congressman.

Baldo had denied the claims made by the PNP against him.

“I assert my innocence. Let us not forget that while I am being used as a convenient scapegoat, those who are truly responsible for the crime remain free and blameless,” he said.

The mayor added that although he was an “easy target” of such accusations, it does not mean that he is guilty of ordering the lawmaker to be killed.

Charges of double murder and six counts of multiple frustrated murder were already filed against Baldo and the six other suspects.