Supreme Court allows transfer of Rodel Batocabe murder case to Manila

The Supreme Court (SC) has allowed the transfer of the murder case of slain Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe from Legazpi City to Manila over allegations of the current judge's bias for the former mayor charged with the crime.

The Second Division ordered the clerk of court of Branch 10 of the Legazpi City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to forward all the case records to the executive judge of Manila, who was in turn directed to raffle the case among the judges of the Manila RTC.

Batocabe's family and Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. separately requested the transfer last September, claiming that Judge Maria Theresa San Juan-Loquillano was biased and partial in favor of former Daraga mayor Carlwyn Baldo, one of the defendants.

Baldo and five others face charges for two counts of murder for the deaths of Batocabe and his aide, SPO2 Orlando Diaz, in December 2018. Baldo is currently out on bail.

The congressman's family alleged that they feared for their and their witnesses' safety should the trial continue in Bicol because Baldo has been provisionally released on bail.

They said their witnesses' fear may prevent them from freely testifying, despite there being "no proof" that Baldo would threaten them, according to an SC notice dated November 27 but seen on Thursday.

The court also said it resolved to transfer the trial venue considering that "the parties involved are influential politicians in the Bicol Region" and in order to "prevent any pressure, influence and appearance of partiality." — RSJ, GMA News