Threats vs. Batocabe started after COC filing for Daraga mayor, colleague says

Ako Bicol party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. on Monday said threats against his late colleague, Congressman Rodel Batocabe, started after he filed his certificate of candidacy for Daraga, Albay mayor.

"Nung tumakbo si Cong. Rodel Batocabe bilang mayor ng Daraga, when he filed his certificate of candidacy, doon lang siya nagsabi na may mga perceived threats siya," Garbin said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Garbin said Batocabe had no threats when they were conducting outreach programs at far-flung barangays.

"Even before na nagko-conduct kami sa far-flung barangays ng mga activities, wala naman gano'n kaming nararamdaman at pinapaabot sa amin," Garbin said.

Batocabe's wife, Gertie Duran-Batocabe, had also hinted that her husband had been murdered over politics. 

Garbin, for his part, refused to name a suspect and left it to government law enforcers to name the culprits.

"Ayaw ko lang muna magpalabas ng mga statement kasi pinapaubaya po natin 'yan sa ating investigating bodies and law enforcement authorities. Sa lalong madaling panahon inaasahan natin na they will come up with definitive findings sa mga perpetrators, and especially the mastermind," he said.

Batocabe, along with his police escort Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando Diaz, was shot dead on Saturday afternoon while he was about to ride his vehicle from a gift-giving event at a covered court at Barangay Burgos in Daraga.

Garbin said he and his fellow Ako Bicol representative had no security detail, but the killing of Batocabe forced him to request for bodyguards.

"Kami ni Cong. Rodel, wala kaming security. The only thing we have is a driver. Katulong ang nasa bahay namin and members ng pamilya. Ngayon nag-require na 'ko ng police detail dahil sa mga pangyayari," he said.

Around 150 colleagues of Batocabe at the House of Representatives have pledged to put up a fund to reward anyone who can give information on the suspects.

The bounty may reach P30 million due to the P15 million reward raised by Ako Bicol party-list and the P2-million commitment of the Albay local government. 

Garbin hopes the reward money can be enough to entice anyone to come out and point the masterminds behind the killing of Batocabe. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KG, GMA News