Travel ban issued vs Daraga Mayor Baldo over Batocabe slay

MANILA, Philippines —  A Legazpi court issued a travel ban against Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, tagged as the brain behind the killing of Rep. Rodel Batocabe (AKO Bicol party-list) and his police escort last year.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete told reporters that the DOJ received the message that a Legazpi regional trial court issued a precautionary hold departure order against Baldo.

The officer-in-charge provincial prosecutor of Albay on January 7 asked the court to issue a PHDO against Baldo and five other suspects in the killing of Batocabe.

READ: DOJ places Batocabe slay suspects under immigration lookout

Batocabe and his security aide SPO2 Orlando Diaz were gunned down in a gift-giving event in Daraga, Albay on December 22.

Police had filed double murder and frustrated murder raps against Baldo and other suspects before a local prosecutor. Perete said that the complaints against them are currently in the preliminary investigation stage.

Baldo was arrested earlier this week for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

READ: Mayor hospitalized; gun in Batocabe slay found

Police also found a .45 caliber pistol, believed to be the weapon used in the killing of Batocabe, in a fishpond in Barangay Busay, Ligao City, Albay.

On the night of his arrest, the Daraga mayor was rushed to the hospital as he was hyperventilating due to asthma.

A witness and six suspects tagged Baldo as the brain behind the murder of Batocabe, who was running for mayor in the 2019 polls.

The alleged gunman, Henry Yuson, claimed he was offered P5 million to have Batocabe assassinated so Baldo could keep his post as mayor of Daraga.

But Baldo earlier denied that he had a hand in the congressman’s killing.

He claimed that he is being used as an “easy target but that does not make me guilty of the crime.”