PNP says P35-M cash reward on Batocabe case given to informants

PNP spokesperson Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) assured on Tuesday that the P35-million reward money raised against the killers of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe was given to all informants, amid the pending probe of the House public accounts committee on the police’s utilization of the bounty.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the PNP is ready to provide details on how the police allocated the cash to witnesses and informants who helped crack the December 22 murder of Batocabe. It was allegedly masterminded by former Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, the late lawmaker’s contender for the mayoral post in the midterm elections.

READ: ‘Wag sana ma-ninja’: House to probe PNP on P35-M bounty in Batocabe slay

“Along with the PNP IG [Intelligence Group], the PNP CIDG [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group] allocated to all informants and suspects/witnesses a total amount of P20M from the Office of the President, and P13M from Congress. The Albay Police Provincial Office allocated the P2M from LGU of Albay for a total amount of P35M reward money,” Banac said in a statement.

He said that the P13 million cash raised by congressmen was only handed to the Office of the Chief PNP and that the role of PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde in allocating the reward money was “merely ministerial.”

He added that Albayalde “definitely has no hand in the distribution.”

“We assure the public that all money is accounted for, and the PNP CIDG and PNP IG are ready to present and provide the details if and when Congress asks for it,” said Banac. /jpv