President Rodrigo Duterte (right) chats with Gertie Duran-Batocabe, widow of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe. (Photo by CHRISTOPHER GO)
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night visited the wake of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe in Daraga, Albay.
The President — who arrived at the wake at around 8:30 p.m. — also raised the bounty on Batocabe’s killers from P30 million to P50 million, former Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said in a text message to reporters.
Batocabe, 52, an administration ally, was at a gift-giving event for senior citizens and persons with disabilities around 3 p.m. in Barangay Burgos in Daraga, Albay when he and his police escort were gunned down by still unknown assailants last Dec. 22
READ: Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, police escort killed in Albay
Malacañang has condemned the “senseless killing” of Batocabe and vowed vow “to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators of this felonious act to justice.”