All 6 Batocabe slay suspects in custody; mastermind still at large

The last two of the six suspects in the slay of Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe surrendered to authorities on Saturday morning, and only the suspected mastermind remains in hiding, police said.

Rolando Aromado, alias "RR" from Masbate, and Danilo Muella, alias "Manoy Dan" from Bicol, surrendered to police on Saturday morning, Julie Cabrera reported on Super Radyo dzBB.

Anim na suspek sa pagpatay kay Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe, hawak na ng mga otoridad. | via @cabrerajulee731 pic.twitter.com/YQeUawT9Ow

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 5, 2019

Police investigation indicated that Aromado served as a lookout and backup gunman, while Muella was the primary gunman in the killing of Batocabe and his police escort Police Officer 2 Orlando Diaz.

Muella was allegedly a security aide of Daraga Mayor Carlywn Baldo, who is the suspected mastermind of the killings.

Aside from Aromado and Muella, four others surrendered earlier and are also in the custody of the PNP.

They were identified as Christopher Naval alias Tuping, Emmanuel Rosello alias Boboy, who served as the driver, Henry Yuson, and Jaywin Babor, who was the backup motorcycle rider.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said justice could now be easily served for Batocabe and Diaz.

In a separate interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana, PNP spokesperson, said the suspects' initial statements corroborate with those of four others who were previously arrested.

"We are quite confident. Talagang the noose is already tightened as far as the mastermind is concerned," Durana said.

"Nagtutugma at this is very much credible dahil sila po ay nakuha at nagbigay ng kanilang mga salaysay on separate occasions. Pero there is a glaring consistency sa mga revelations kaya we are very much confident that we have a very strong case against the mastermind," he added.

Durana said Aromado was convinced by his wife and child to surrender, prompting the Albay Police Provincial Office to go to Masbate to arrest him.

He added that the suspects surrendered due to pressure by police, and thus echoed Albayalde in saying that the case has been "solved, but not yet closed."

The PNP already confiscated three out of the four firearms owned by Baldo.

Durana expressed confidence that the said photos of the suspects present during Batocabe's gift-giving activity to senior citizens and their extrajudicial confessions will hold water in court.

Batocabe was shot dead on December 22 right after a Christmas gift-giving event in Daraga, Albay. The 52-year old congressman and Diaz were declared dead upon arrival in the hospital. —Jamil Santos/LBG/KG, GMA News