Angara ‘outraged’ by Batocabe’s slay; Poe wants end to ‘political violence’

MANILA, Philippines — Senators immediately condemned Saturday the killing of Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe, with Senator Grace Poe calling for an end to “political violence“ in the country.

“I am outraged at the killing of Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe by unknown assailants in Daraga, Albay on Saturday,” Senator Sonny Angara said in a statement.

“This deplorable act of violence has no place in a democratic society like ours,” he added.

Angara then urged the police “to run after the suspects and bring them to the bar of justice at the soonest possible time.”

Poe, meanwhile, deplored not only the killing of Batocabe but also of Joelito “Jukens” Talaid, former mayor of Kadingilan town in Bukidnon.

“We deplore the killing of Ako Bicol Rep. Batocabe and former Mayor Talaid,” Poe said in a separate statement.

“We exhort authorities to act fast to make the killers accountable. This sorry history in our nation of political violence must stop,” she further said. 

Batocabe and his aide were killed while attending a gift-giving even in Barangay Burgos in Daraga, Albay around 3 p.m. Saturday while Talaid was killed in an ambush in Cagayan de Oro Saturday morning.

Authorities have yet to identify the assailants in both shooting incidents. /kga

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