Duterte says he threatened an Albay mayor for harassing Batocabe’s wife

PLEDGE OF SUPPORT President Duterte condoles with Gertrudes Duran-Batocabe, widow of slain Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, during a visit to the lawmaker’s wake in Daraga, Albay. —MALACAÑANG PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said he threatened an Albay mayor who was allegedly harassing the widow of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe.

Batocabe, who was gunning for the mayoral post in Daraga, Albay in the 2019 midterm elections, was shot to death by unidentified gunmen last week.

“Kaya nung sa Albay, hindi ko siya pinangalanan pero sabi ko, ‘Mayor p***** i** mo. Huwag mo talagang akalain na ikaw lang ang marunong na gumawa ng ganon. Do not ever think na you, ikaw lang, you have the monopoly of evil in this world.  Marami tayo,” Duterte said in a speech in Kidapawan, Cotabato.

“Kung kaya mo mag-isip ng ganon, kaya ko rin. Alam mo sabi ko, “P***** i** ka. Huwag mong takutin ’yang biyud… sabi ko, sa biyuda, ‘sige ikaw tumakbo,'” he added.

Duterte said he had told the local chief executive that he would humiliate him in front of his family if he would continue to threaten Batocabe’s widow.

“Ngayon gusto mo ng barilan? ‘Di sige. Okay. Dalawa tayo pasok tayo doon sa kwarto mo. ’Pag hindi ko pasabugin ’yung b***** mo,” he said.

The lawmaker was shot eight times by two unidentified men during a gift-giving event last week in Barangay Burgos, Daraga town in Albay. Also killed was Batocabe’s police escort, SPO2 Orlando Diaz.

Duterte earlier visited Batocabe’s wake where he said that based on initial findings, the leads were “very strong.” He also said that it was clearly “politically motivated.”

Police sketches of the possible suspects have been released and new witnesses are reportedly offering to help identify and locate the killers.