PNP: Witnesses in Batocabe slay scared to come forward

The police is yet to find a witness on the gruesome murder of Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen three days before Christmas, PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said Wednesday.

“I directed the director of CIDG  (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) to be on top of the investigation. Medyo nahihirapan ang investigators natin dahil walang gustong magsalita doon sa lugar,” Albayalde said at a press conference in Albay.

Batocabe, who is running for Daraga, Albay mayor next year, was killed while he was on his way to his vehicle after distributing Christmas giveaways for senior citizens on Saturday.

“Parang ang mga kababayan natin ay natatakot and I don’t know why. Pati ang brgy. chairman ay wala raw alam. Ang alam lang natin ay pumunta roon si Congressman na walang coordination sa PNP. Previously raw ay nakikipagcoordinate naman daw 'yung kanyang security detail,” Albayalde said.

“Nakipagcoordinate na tayo sa camp ni Congressman and ang sabi nila ay 'yung security detail niya ang nakikipag-coordinate kapag pupunta sya sa isang lugar. Nasa ano kasi, nasa politician kasi yan o candidate kung gusto nilang makipagcoordinate sa pulis,” Albayalde added.

Batocabe's wife Gertie has hinted that her husband was killed due to politics, while his colleague and fellow Ako Bicol party-list lawmaker Alfredo Garbin said that threats to Batocabe's life increased when he filed a certificate of candidacy for Daraga, Albay Mayor last October.

Albayalde, however, said that the initial probe has yet to establish that Batocabe's slay was politically motivated.

“With regards sa sinasabi nila na link ang isang mayor, as of this time wala pa tayong substantial evidence that will link him. But we are not discounting possibility na pwede siyang ma-link,” Albayalde said. — MDM, GMA News