Ex-Daraga mayor tagged in Batocabe slay freed after posting bail

Former Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, the alleged mastermind in the killing of Ako Bicol (AKB) Representative Rodel Batocabe, walks out of the Legazpi City Jail in Legazpi City on Monday afternoon, after the Regional Trial Court granted his petition for bail. George Gio Brondial/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

LEGAZPI CITY — Former Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, the alleged mastermind in the killing of Ako Bicol (AKB) Rep. Rodel Batocabe, gained temporary freedom Monday from the Legazpi City Jail after Regional Trial Court Branch 10 presiding judge Maria Theresa Loquillano signed his release papers after he posted bail.

Baldo, who is facing double murder and six counts of frustrated murder, submitted to the court last week P8.72 million worth of surety bond composed of land titles in his name after his petition for bail was granted by court.

Outside the city jail, Baldo’s sister Camalig town vice mayor Ardhail “Ding” Baldo, brother Ervin, his mother Gloria, and his lawyer Lovensky Fernandez waited for him.

Baldo’s release papers should have been signed last week but Loquillano was on vacation leave at the time.

Justin Batocabe, son of the slain solon, in a phone interview, said he and his lawyers did not receive any information about the signing of Baldo’s release papers.

“If this is true, this is shocking and a sad day for the family,” Batocabe said.

In December 22 last year, his father Rodel and his security aide were killed while leaving a Christmas event in Daraga.

The older Batocabe was running against Baldo, who was seeking reelection, in the recently concluded May polls.

Motion denied

The younger Batocabe said he was surprised that their Motion for Reconsideration (MR) filed Sept. 3 opposing the petition for granting bail to Baldo was immediately denied.

He said as a practice, seeking an MR should be evaluated and reviewed fully as the adversed party would be asked to comment and explain their side.

“To our surprise, after she (Loquillano) returned following a vacation, our motion for reconsideration was rejected outright,” he said.

The prosecution lawyers also submitted last week a Motion for Inhibition for Judge Loquillano.

Loquillano, in her 14-page decision on Aug. 27, ruled granting Baldo’s petition for bail after she found that the evidence presented “is not enough to convince the Court that evidence of accused guilt was strong enough as to deny his motion to bail.”

But the judge clarified in her ruling that what the court was resolving pertains only to Baldo’s petition to post bail.

“This is but a preliminary matter and should not be considered by anyone as conclusive, or as a bar, that would prevent the court from making a final assessment of the evidence of the parties after a full-blown trial,” she added./lzb