PNP thumbs down Baldo’s appeal for review of evidence

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it cannot review the pieces of evidence linking Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo to the murder of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe.

“We cannot do that anymore because the case is already in court, bahala na ‘yung korte diyan (It’s up to the court),” PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde told reporters in a press conference in Laguna on Friday.

Earlier, Baldo appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to look into the evidence gathered by authorities in relation to the assassination of Batocabe.

READ: Daraga mayor asks gov’t to review evidence on Batocabe murder case
 

Albayalde, however, stressed that they will only review the case as ordered by the court.

“Kung manghingi yung korte ng supplemental, then we will provide. Hindi naman natin pakialaman yung kaso dahil yung kaso [ay] nasa korte na,” he said.

Last April 4, the Department of Justice (DOJ) already filed cases of murder and attempted murder before the Legazpi City Regional Trial Court against Baldo for Batocabe’s death in December 2018.

Similar cases were also filed against the alleged hitmen,  Christopher Naval, Emmanuel Rosello, Jaywin Babor, Henry Yuson and Rolando Arimado.

The lawmaker and his security escort, Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando Diaz, were shot dead by unidentified men in a remote village in Daraga last December 22, 2018.

Several bystanders were wounded.

READ: Baldo indicted for Batocabe killing – DOJ