PNP believes there is ‘bias’ in granting of bail to accused tagged in Batocabe slay

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. INQUIRER Southern Luzon file photo / George Gio Brondial

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) believes that there is “bias” in the granting of bail to former Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, who is allegedly the mastermind behind the killing of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe.

During the House public accounts committee meeting on Wednesday, lawyer Joseph Orsos from the PNP Legal Division admitted they were surprised that the Legazpi City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 granted Baldo’s petition for bail despite the PNP’s “strong” case against him.

He believes that there is “bias” on the part of the court in granting Baldo bail.

“Reading the order granting bail, of course, we were very surprised. For us, this should have been denied outright because we believe we have a very strong case, strong evidence,” Orsos said during the meeting.

“Maybe we are partial because we are the police but I believe there is somehow bias in favor of the accused,” he added.

He reasoned that the court did not recognize the extrajudicial confessions of six witnesses submitted to the police.

“The court never mentioned about the extrajudicial confessions as if we did not obtain confessions from all the accused, as if this extrajudicial confessions never existed,” Orsos said.

Orsos said the RTC judge that handled the case should be recused to inhibit from handling the case.

“We urge the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region V to make a move to recuse the presiding judge, to inhibit,” the lawyer from the PNP Legal Division said.

In December last year, Batocabe and his aide Orlando Diaz, were shot dead during a gift-giving activity for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Baldo is currently out on bail after posting a P8-million bail for double murder and six counts of frustrated murder.

Edited by JPV