Gunman’s firearm matches evidence in Batocabe slay crime scene — PNP

Updated (7:06 p.m.)

MANILA, Philippines — Ballistics examination confirmed that the slugs and shells recovered from the crime scene where Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe and SPO2 Orlando Diaz were killed belonged to confessed gunman Henry Yuson.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Monday that the five slugs and 11 shells from the crime scene matched the caliber .40 pistol registered under Yuson’s name. The ballistic examination was conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory Office.

He said this development will further boost the case against the alleged mastermind, Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo and six other suspects.

Yuson earlier admitted killing Batocabe, saying he was ordered by Baldo to carry out the assassination.

“We checked on the ballistics and ‘yung nakuhang shell lahat ‘yan nagmatch doon. We are now confident na totoo ‘yung sinabi [ni Yuson],” Albayalde said, citing that Yuson’s testimonies were consistent with the result of the examination.

(We checked on the ballistics and the recovered shells have matched. We are now confident that Yuson was telling the truth.)

The PNP had earlier filed cases of double murder and six counts of frustrated murder against Baldo and the other suspects.

Police earlier said the suspects in the killing have pointed to Baldo as the brains behind the murder. Baldo said he was just used as a “convenient scapegoat.” /je

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