LOOK: PNP releases mugshots of 6 Batocabe slay suspects
Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde presents on January 3, 2019, the link diagram of the suspects in the killing of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe. INQUIRER.net file photo / Cathrine Gonzales
MANILA, Philippines — The Bicol Region police released on Monday the mugshots of the six suspects in the murder of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort SPO2 Orlando Diaz.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said testimonies of the suspects have pointed to Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the brains behind the killing.
Police said the suspects were all confidential staff of the Office of the Municipal Mayor of Daraga, Albay under fictitious names and were receiving P7,000 a month.
READ: PNP: Daraga mayor is Batocabe slay ‘mastermind’
Baldo, meanwhile, has denied plotting the murder of Batocabe, who was challenging him in the mayoral post in the 2019 elections. The mayor maintained he was only being used as a “convenient scapegoat” in the case.
Cases of double murder and six counts of frustrated murder have been filed by the PNP against Baldo and the six suspects.
Henry Yuson alias Romel or Eno
Photo courtesy of Bicol Region police
Yuson, the alleged main gunman in the murder, surrendered to an Army unit in Sorsogon on Jan. 3. He admitted killing Batocabe with his caliber .40 pistol, allegedly upon the order of Baldo. Police said he was also a former member of the New People’s Army.
He was later arrested for his standing warrant of arrest for rape.
READ: Main gunman in Batocabe slay surrenders
The PNP later discovered through a ballistics test that the 11 spent shells and five slugs recovered from the crime scene came from the pistol registered under the name of Yuson. The PNP said this development is consistent with his testimony and boosts the case against Baldo.
READ: Gunman’s firearm matches evidence in Batocabe slay crime scene — PNP
Christopher Naval alias Tuping
Photo courtesy of Bicol Region police
Naval, allegedly the trusted security aide of Baldo, was “forced” to surrender to the PNP Intelligence Group on Dec. 30 “due to relentless police operations.”
According to the PNP, Naval was a discharged member of the Army and was once assigned to the Military Intelligence Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division. Police said he provided relevant information to investigators.
Rolando Arimado alias RR
Photo courtesy of Bicol Region police
Police said Arimado, a rebel returnee, served as a lookout and back-up gunman in the crime. He surrendered to the police on Jan. 5.
Police also said he allegedly pulled the trigger to kill Batocabe and Diaz.
Danilo Muella alias Manoy Dan
Photo courtesy of Bicol Region police
Muella, who allegedly purchased two home-made caliber .45 pistols for the murder, turned himself in to authorities also on Jan. 5. Police said Muella was a former Technical Sergeant in the 97th Military Intelligence Company of the 9th Infantry Division.
Emmanuel Rosillo alias Boboy
Photo courtesy of Bicol Region police
Rosillo was a former militiaman who allegedly drove one of the getaway motorcycles used by the suspects. He was arrested by the police on Jan. 3 in Daraga, Albay.
Jaywin Babor alias Jie
Photo courtesy of Bicol Region police
Babor was also the alleged driver of another getaway motorcycle used in the crime. The PNP said he was a former member of the Philippine Army.
PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said Babor went into hiding in Metro Manila after the assassination was carried out.
READ: Another suspect in Batocabe slay surrenders to police
A certain Emmanuel Bonita Judavar, who claimed he was part of the assassination plot but backed out before the actual murder, also earlier surrendered to police. He later became a witness whose testimonies the PNP claimed to have helped solve the murder case. /jpv
