MANILA, Philippines (Updated 10:09 a.m.) — The alleged gunman who shot Rep. Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol Party-list) and his security escort surrendered himself to authorities.
According to a report from radio dzBB, suspect Henry Yuson presented himself to the military in Sorsogon on Thursday.
Related Stories
Yuson, a former member of the New People's Army, is now under the custody of the Philippine National Police in Daraga, Albay.
The alleged gunman also tagged Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the mastermind of the murder. Yuson told the police that the mayor did not give their group the promised P5 million after killing Batocabe.
Related video:
Batocabe was supposed to run for mayor in Daraga in the May 2019 elections.
The lawmaker and his security escort SPO2 Orlando Diaz were shot dead three days after Christmas while attending a gift-giving event in Daraga. Seven bystanders were also wounded in the incident.
Baldo, Yuson and five other suspects are facing muder charges, the police said.
The Daraga mayor, on the other hand, had insisted that he had no hand in the murder of Batocabe. The PNP earlier identified Baldo as the alleged mastermind in the killing.
A suspect claimed that Baldo hired a six-man team to kill Batocabe, which the Daraga mayor has denied.
“I assert my innocence. Let us not forget that while I’m being used as convenient scapegoat, those who are truly responsible for the crime remain free and blameless,” Baldo said in a press conference. — Patricia Lourdes Viray
Related video: