Lakas-CMD drops Baldo as its candidate for mayor of Daraga, Albay

Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) on Sunday announced it has dropped Carlwyn Baldo, incumbent mayor of Daraga, Albay, as its official candidate for mayor in the said town.

The party said it has revoked its Certification of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) for Baldo.

Atty. Bautista Corpin Jr., Lakas-CMD executive director, on Thursday wrote a letter to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Law Department Directgor Maria Norina T. Casingal informing the poll body about the said withdrawal.

"Please be informed that Lakas-CMD is revoking the CONA issued to Mr. Baldo. Hence, Mayor Baldo is no longer the official candidate of Lakas-CMD for the position of Mayor of Daraga," he wrote.

"Regretfully, Mayor Baldo has been nominated as the official candidate of LAKAS-CMD for Mayor of Daraga, Albay. After deliberations, LAKAS-CMD has decided to revoke the nomination of Mayor Baldo as the official candidate of the party," he added.

Corpin also sent copies of his letter to the provincial election supervisor in Albay and the municipal election officer in Daraga.

Alleged gunman Henry Yuson identified Baldo as the alleged mastermind in the killings of Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe and his bodyguard Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando Diaz on December 22, 2018.

The two were shot to death after they attended a gift-giving event in Daraga.

Lakas-CMD said it is committed to keeping the May 2019 polls honest, clean, accurate, meaningful, and peaceful "amid the expected intense rivalries of candidates."

It also said Filipinos have the right to choose their own leaders.

"Thus, LAKAS-CMD strongly condemns the killings of AKO-BICOL party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe and his security aide. Violence in any form and for whatever reason has no place in our democratic institutions," the party said.

The police has earlier filed double murder and six counts of frustrated murder charges against Baldo and the mayor's alleged conspirators Yuson, Jaywin Babor, Christopher Cabrera Naval alias Tuping, Danilo Muella alias Manoy Dan, Rolando Aromado alias RR and Emmanuel Rosello alias Boboy. —KG, GMA News