Duterte threatens to slap Daraga mayor Baldo tagged in Batocabe murder

President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to slap, if not send to the floor Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo who has been accused by the police of ordering the murder of his political rival and Ako Bicol party-list representative Rodel Batocabe.

Duterte made the threat on the day that PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde announced that the police filed double murder and six counts of frustrated murder charges against Daraga, Albay Mayor Baldo and Mayor Baldo's six other supposed employees over the gruesome murder of Ako Bicol party-list representative Rodel Batocabe who was killed last December 23, 2018.

Prior to his death, Batocabe was supposed to challenge Baldo in the Daraga, Albay mayoralty race in the May polls.

“Merong tatakbo [para kay Batocabe]. Either relative, wife, or son. [You, Baldo]... do not... puntahan talaga kita. Sampalin kita riyan sa munisipyo mo,” Duterte said during the birthday party of his former political adviser and 2019 Senate bet Francis Tolentino.

“Try it. Sige, bukas, andun ako, pag 'di kita nilampaso riyan,” Duterte added.

Baldo has denied ordering the murder of Batocabe, saying that he is being used by the police as a scapegoat which gives the perpetrators of Batocabe's killing a free ride to freedom.

The reward for any individual who will be able to provide information on Batocabe's killers stands at P50 million. Of the said amount, P20 million are courtesy of Duterte, while the remainder were raised by Batocabe's colleagues in the House of Representatives.

Batocabe's son and lawyer Justin said earlier in the day that the family is yet to decide who will substitute his father in the 2019 polls but assured their constituents that Batocabe will be substituted.

Under election law, Batocabe can only be replaced by somebody with the same surname since the deadline for substituting a candidate has already lapsed last November 30. In cases of sudden death like Batocabe, he can be substituted until before the election day commences. —JST, GMA News