PNP reveals Baldo also ‘planned’ to kill his predecessor

“Nakasalaysay din doon sa statement ng witnesses na si mayor [Baldo] pinlano rin [patayin] si Mayor Jaucian (Based on the statement of the witness, Mayor Baldo also planned to kill Mayor Jaucian) in the amount of P350,000,” Corpus said. (File photo: Awin Baldo/Facebook)

After tagging Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the mastermind behind the murder of AKO Bicol Representative Rodel Batocabe, the Philippine National Police (PNP) made another revelation: the mayor also planned to kill his predecessor, former Daraga Mayor Gerry Jaucian.

This was disclosed by PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director, Chief Superintendent Amador Corpus in a press briefing on Monday, January 7, stressing that the information came from their primary witness, Emmanuel Judavar. Judavar took part in the planning of Batocabe’s killing but backed out from the execution.

“Nakasalaysay din doon sa statement ng witnesses na si mayor [Baldo] pinlano rin [patayin] si Mayor Jaucian (Based on the statement of the witness, Mayor Baldo also planned to kill Mayor Jaucian) in the amount of P350,000,” Corpus said.

Corpus said those who are involved in Batocabe’s slay were the “same people” who were supposed to assassinate Jaucian.

“But hindi natuloy dahil (it did not push through because) the mayor died of illness sometime June 2018,” he said.

Jaucian, who was supposed to be Daraga’s mayor until 2019, died in May 2018 after battling lung cancer. Following his death, Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara appointed Baldo, who was then serving as Daraga’s vice mayor, to be Jaucian’s successor.

On Saturday, PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde announced that all six individuals hired allegedly by Baldo to kill Batocabe are now in police custody, after suspects Rolando Arimado alias “RR,” a former New People’s Army (NPA) rebel, and Danilo Muella alias “Manoy Dan” surrendered themselves to the police.

[READ: All 6 suspects in Batocabe slay are now with the police]

Baldo allegedly offered to pay the six-man hit team five million pesos for the lawmaker’s murder, but the suspects said the mayor failed to give them the full reward money after they killed Batocabe.

All allegations thrown against him, however, were belied by the Daraga mayor, saying that he was just being used as a “convenient scapegoat.”

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

The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) on Sunday announced that it has revoked the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) it initially issued to Baldo, saying that the latter will no longer be the party’s official candidate in Daraga mayoralty race in May’s midterm elections.

Before this, the PNP filed double murder and frustrated murder charges against Baldo and his cohorts.