P20-M bounty from Duterte went to witness in Batocabe slay, Cong. Rodel’s son says

A witness in the killing of Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe received the P20-million bounty that President Rodrigo Duterte pledged for anyone who can provide information that would lead to the arrest of the killers of the late lawmaker, his son said on Thursday.

At a media forum, lawyer Justin Batocabe said witness Emmanuel Judavar got the multi-million-peso bounty.

"Sa aking pagkakaalam sa witness na si Emmanuel Judavar [ibinigay ang P20 million]," he told reporters.

Judavar, an employee of alleged mastermind Daraga, Albay mayor Carlwyn Baldo, had come forward to the police and spilled the details on the plan to kill Batocabe.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said Judavar was initially involved in the Batocabe hit, originally scheduled for August 2018, but he eventually backed out after some disagreements with the mayor.

Baldo and six of his employees were charged with double murder and six counts of frustrated murder over the killing of Batocabe.

Justin said no suspect has yet to be included in the Witness Protection Program (WPP), as the preliminary investigation into the case has not yet formally begun.

"Depende po 'yan sa judge at piskal kung sino po ang makakapasok sa WPP," he said.

Apart from the P20-million bounty from the President, the colleagues of Batocabe at the House of Representatives, the Ako Bicol party-list, and the provincial government of Albay have also raised P30 million as reward money for any witness to the crime.

Justin said the remaining P30 million, which has not been given to anyone, will be sent out in tranches as the murder case moves along.

"Ang amin pong napag-usapan, sa pagsisimula ng preliminary investigation, finding of probable cause, at actual conviction [ang pagbibigay ng reward money]," he said.

"Kasi yan po ang magapatunay na totoo po ang kanilang kwento, ang determinasyon ng judge na he (the suspect) is guilty beyond reasonable doubt," he added.

The reward money will be given to the family of the suspects who voluntarily surrendered, Justin said, and they will make sure that the amount will not be put to waste.

"Gagamitin po yan para sa kanilang seguridad at sa kanilang pang-araw araw na pangangailangan at sa pagpa-paaral ng kanilang mga anak," he said.

But suspected gunmen Henry Yuson and Rolando Aromado alias RR will not be among those who would be receiving the reward money, Justin said, as they are not the least guilty in the crime.

"Maaari silang isama sa WPP pero hindi sa reward," Justin said.

Batocabe, along with his police aide Orlando Diaz, was shot dead on December 22 while he was about to ride his vehicle from a gift-giving event in Albay at a covered court at Barangay Burgos in Daraga.

Batocabe was laid to rest at the Daraga Catholic Church in Albay on December 31.

On Monday, a requiem Mass and necrological service were held at the House of Representatives in memory of Batocabe. — MDM, GMA News