Batocabe widow: I am being asked to run in my husband’s place

Gertie Duran-Batocabe, the widow of slain Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, talks to the media at the wake for her husband. PHOTO/George Gio Brondial, Inquirer Southern Luzon

DARAGA, Albay – The widow of slain Ako Bicol (AKB) Rep. Rodel Batocabe admitted to media in a press conference Thursday that she was being pushed as this town’s mayor, replacing her husband in the 2019 elections.

“Last night, the president no less asked me to run in his place, to not let his death go in vain,” Gertrudes “Gertie” Duran-Batocabe said.

Batocabe and his police escort SPO1 Orlando Diaz were shot and killed on Saturday in a Christmas event in this town. At the time of his death, the lawmaker was running for Daraga mayor.

“I have been told that I can. But my main focus right now is to bury him (Rodel) with dignity and honor in accordance with how he lived his life. And after this is justice. We will not allow that there would be no justice,” she said.

Gertie is a graduate of Mass Communications from the University of the Philippines.

“I will not be pushed if I run, it will be my own decision. It will be with a purpose, it will be because I can do it,” she added.

Without naming anyone, she made remarks directed to the mastermind of her husband’s killing.

“You are so desperate. Pinatay mo? Binili mo na lang sana. (You killed him? You should have just bought him) I know you’re evil. Anak ka ni Satanas, ewan ko kung sa’n ka galing (You are a spawn of Satan, I don’t know where you came from),” she said.

“Mahal na mahal ng asawa ko itong Daraga. Maawa kayo. Pinatay niyo siya na parang karne lang ng…(My husband loves Daraga very much. Have mercy. You killed him like so much meat…),” she pleaded.

Her son, lawyer Justin, was sitting beside her in the media conference at Arcilla Hall in Bicol University’s Daraga Campus where the wake for her husband is being held until December 31.

“We call upon the Daraga Comelec and Comelec (Commission on elections) in general to be extra vigilant,” Justin said, alluding to speculations that the killing of his father was politically motivated.

Trial by publicity

Meanwhile, reacting to text messages and public speculation that he could be the one who ordered the lawmaker’s killing, Daraga town Mayor Carlwyn Baldo had been since Monday denying any involvement in the crime.

“Let us avoid trial by publicity and wait for the final results of the ongoing investigation…,” he said in a statement that he posted on his Facebook account Thursday.

He also called on the people “to exercise sobriety and circumspection.”

Batocabe’s widow had posted on her own Facebook account a status message that said, “You know so well we were winning the race. You coward just had to take him out.”

Baldo, who is seeking reelection under Lakas-CMD, is National Unity Party bet and Batocabe’s opponent in the Daraga town mayoral race in 2019. The other contender for the post of Daraga mayor is incumbent vice mayor Victor Perete (PDP-Laban).

Baldo even challenged his detractors to produce evidence pinpointing him as the mastermind and file a case against him in court.

“I don’t want to aggravate the situation, I am asking for understanding [and] let the authorities do their work for the early solution of the case,” he told media.

Baldo in a statement read to media said, “I am saddened by the loss of a good man and a worthy opponent in the upcoming 2019 election. We were shocked by the incident as we didn’t expect this to happen, especially its Christmas and the election period is quite still far.” With reports from Mar S. Arguelles and Rey Anthony Ostria, Inquirer Southern Luzon/ac