Duterte assures assistance to family of Batocabe’s slain police escort

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte assured the family of the slain police escort of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe that they will receive assistance from the government, including housing and education for the policeman’s children.

Duterte made the remark as he extended his condolences to the family of Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando Diaz while he was in the wake of Batocabe in Daraga, Albay last Wednesday night.

“So we will take care of the education of the children and kung walang bahay nagre-renta (if they have no house and just renting), we’ll build the house for… I will spend all the money at my control na mabigyan sila ng bahay (so they’ll get a house). Automatic ‘yan ngayon. Police or military,” Duterte told reporters in an interview.

On December 22, Batocabe and Diaz were shot dead by unidentified gunmen after a gift-giving ceremony for senior citizens in Daraga town.

Authorities are looking at politics and communist activity as potential motive for the killing. /ee

READ: Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, police escort killed in Albay