Duterte raises bounty for killer of party-list Rep. Batocabe

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 27) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday offered a bigger reward for the arrest of the killer of AKO BICOL Party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe.

From the current P30 million bounty, Duterte added P20 million, raising the reward to P50 million. Duterte said those with any information on the killer can leave a tip while remaining anonymous.

“The reward is at this time is P30 million. I’m raising the ante. I’m putting it at plus P20 to P50. Ang sabihin mo lang, tip lang. Bigyan mo isang tip lang,” he said in a media interview after visiting Batocabe’s wake at Bicol University in Daraga, Albay.

To ensure swift justice for the killing of the three-term lawmaker who sought the mayoralty post of Daraga, Albay, Duterte recommended to the Commission of Elections (Comelec) to place the municipality under its control.

Placing an area under Comelec’s control means the poll body will take immediate and direct supervision and control over all national and local officials in Daraga, Albay, including exercising control and supervision over all law enforcement agencies. Security councils will also be stationed in the area under Comelec control.

The President also issued a warning against candidates resorting to violence to get rid of their political opponents in the May 2019 elections.

“They are there not really to protect or to serve their constituents but their personal interest and their desire to win by hook or by crook… I promise the Filipino people, my country that I will not allow political terrorism, oppression, and intimidation,” he said.

Duterte added, “If you are the one na gumagawa ng kalokohan, pinapatay yung mga kalaban, p****** i** mo pupuntahan kita dito. I will personally confront you.”

Authorities are eyeing politics in the killing of Batocabe. Among the opponents Batocabe faced in the mayoralty race are incumbent town Mayor Carlwyn Baldo and Vice Mayor Victor Perete. Albayalde said a mayor has been repeatedly linked to the Batocabe slay, but so far there is not enough evidence to pin him down for the lawmaker’s shooting.

But Duterte said the Bicolanos are certain who ordered the killing of Batocabe, adding he has “reasons also to suspect the guy.”

“So if I say politically motivated, it could be a politician, it could be the mayor, it could the governor, or a barangay captain. But my favorite name now is mayor. But I’m not saying who that mayor is… Kapag napundi ako sa’yo, p***** i** mo babarilin kita. Kung ‘yan ang paraan lang para magkaroon tayo ng kapayapaan, na peaceful election then do not f*** the system. Better behave,” he said.

Batocabe and his security aide were shot dead on December 22 during a gift-giving program in his hometown. Police have identified six persons of interest with the help of witnesses. Duterte said that based on initial findings, the leads to the suspect is strong.

“The link is quite — it’s not a warped one. It’s almost straight. So walang paliko-liko,” he said.

Director General Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, said they are facing challenges in the investigation as people present during the gift-giving are refusing to talk out of fear.

“What we were able to establish itong mga assailants nanggaling sa likod, so ibig sabihin itong mga ito nanggaling din doon sa crowd. So there is a big possibility na yung mga tao sa crowd na yun ay kilala itong mga assailants and yet walang gustong magsalita,” he said in a press briefing after a command conference in Daraga, Albay.

[Translation: What we were able to establish was that the assailants came from the back, so it means they were from the crowd. So there is a big possibility that the people in the crowd know the assailants and yet nobody wants to talk.]

Albayalde assured that the investigation on the Batocabe slay would be thorough and would not be whitewashed.

The top cop said the PNP has recorded 23 incidents of politically-related killings since October until December 23, already more than half of the 42 politically-related killings recorded from January 2016 to May 8, 2016.

Meanwhile, AKO BICOL party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin said the Batocabe family will field a substitute candidate for the mayoralty race in Daraga.

In a text message to CNN Philippines, Garbin said someone from the slain lawmaker’s family will “definitely” take his place, but he can’t say yet who the substitute candidate will be.