Daraga mayor seeks transfer to Manila of murder trial due to threats

Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo. (Photo from CIDG Region 5)

Update

MANILA, Philippines — Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo has appealed to judicial authorities to move from Legazpi City to Manila the venue of his murder trial allegedly after receiving threats to his life.

Baldo said he received death threats from personalities whom he believes “are the true [perpetrators]” behind the assassination of AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Botacabe and his police escort.

“Ang kaso pong itong ay mga kasong gawa-gawa lamang ng mga taong gusto akong patalsikin bilang mayor ng Daraga, mga taong malaki ang interes sa Daraga at gagawin ang lahat para sa kanilang pansariling interes,” he said, reading a prepared statement during a press conference in Manila on Friday.

“Patuloy pong kumikilos ang mga taong tunay sa sangkot sa kasong ito upang idiin ako at sirain ang aking pangalan bilang alkalde ng Daraga,” he added.

According to Baldo, unknown cars have already cased their house on several occasions.

“Yung sa death threats po…may mga umaali-aligid po doon sa malapit sa compound namin, may mga naka-park na mga sasakyan na hindi po namin kilala. Even po sa munisipyo. Kasi po may mga nagmamalasakit din pong tao na nagbibigay sakin ng impormasyon,” he told reporters during a press conference.

Baldo added that his wife also received a text message telling his lawyer, Atty. Merito Fernandez, to back out from the case.

He also noted that he started receiving threats following the murder of Batocabe.

“Dun na nagstart na sinasabi nila na ‘At all cost’ daw, gagawin nilang lahat para hindi ako makaupo,” Baldo said.

With this, he called on the judiciary to move his trial from the Legazpi City Regional Court Branch to Manila.

READ: Baldo indicted for Batocabe killing – DOJ 

Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) tagged Baldo as the alleged mastermind behind the killing of Botacabe and his police escort, SPO2 Orlando Diaz.

READ: PNP: Daraga mayor is Batocabe slay ‘mastermind’ 

However, Baldo has repeatedly maintained his innocence.

READ: Daraga mayor: I did not kill Batocabe, SPO2 Diaz 

Members of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 5 arrested the mayor after firearms and ammunition were seized from his house during the implementation of a search warrant on January 22.

READ: CIDG arrests Daraga mayor for illegal possession of firearms 

Baldo’s request to post bail was then granted by the Legazpi City Regional Trial Court Branch 10 amounting to P3 million or a surety or property bond of P4 million early February.

This after the provincial prosecutors failed to file in court charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition and illegal possession of an explosive against him. /jpv

READ: Court allows Daraga Mayor Baldo to post bail