Batocabe murder: Wanted Albay mayor surrenders to cops

IN CUSTODY Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo allows a CIDG operative to handcuff him after his surrender at the Camalig police station. Baldo is facing two counts of murder for the slaying of former Ako Bicol party list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort in 2018. —CIDG Bicol photo

LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY, Philippines — Mayor Carlwyn Baldo of Daraga town in Albay, who was wanted for his alleged role in the 2018 killing of his former political rival and the latter’s police escort, voluntarily surrendered to police in Camalig town on Tuesday.

Baldo was to be served a warrant of arrest by the police on Aug. 22 at his residence in Barangay Tagas in Daraga but he was not home at the time.

The arrest warrant was issued on Aug. 21 by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in the National Capital Region (NCR) over the double murder charge for the deaths of former Ako Bicol party list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police aide, Master Sgt. Orlando Diaz, in December 2018.

‘Just the start’

Baldo surrendered to Camalig police at 12:55 a.m. His brother, Carlos Irwin Baldo Jr., is the current mayor of Camalig.

At the Camalig police station, operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) served him his warrant of arrest, which was signed by Presiding Judge Acerey Pacheco of Branch 3 of RTC NCR, and read him his Miranda rights in the presence of his brother and his counsel, Merito Fernandez.

Police Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon, Bicol police director, told the Inquirer on Tuesday that Baldo would be temporarily detained at the Camalig police jail.

“We are awaiting guidance from the issuing court on Baldo’s arrest and will follow instructions, whether to transport him to court by air or land,” Dizon said.

Batocabe’s family was grateful for the arrest of Baldo.

Lawyer Justin Batocabe, the late Batocabe’s son, stressed Baldo’s arrest was only the beginning of their quest for justice for his father’s death.

The younger Batocabe also thanked the Philippine National Police, CIDG, Court of Appeals and Supreme Court “for their decision to overturn the grant of bail to the accused.”

Justin also expressed gratitude to the judge for his “courage,” noting that issuing a warrant of arrest for a sitting mayor requires “significant bravery.”

“This is just the start, and justice will be served when there is a conviction,” he said in an interview.

At the time of his death, Batocabe was running against Baldo, who was seeking reelection, for the mayoral post in Daraga.

Tagged as mastermind

Batocabe and Diaz were shot and killed while leaving a Christmas event in a far-flung village in Daraga on Dec. 22, 2018. The gunmen were later arrested and pointed at Baldo as the alleged mastermind.

Despite being linked to the killing of his rival, the Commission on Elections in Bicol declared that Baldo was still allowed to run in the May 2019 elections but was defeated by then Daraga Vice Mayor Victor Perete. He ran again in 2022 and won the mayoral seat.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Baldo said the trials he is facing are not new to him and that he respects the court’s decision.

He also thanked all Daragueños for electing him as mayor.

According to Baldo, he has worked diligently over the past two years to fulfill his promises and has never neglected his obligations and responsibilities.

“Challenges and trials are part of life and they come and go. I believe, as before, we can overcome this. I will face it with strength and strong trust in God,” he stressed.

Vice Mayor Gerry Raphael Jaucian Jr. took over as acting mayor of Daraga on Tuesday.