Daraga vice mayor named acting mayor after Carlwyn Baldo's arrest

Daraga Vice Mayor Victor Perete has been appointed as acting mayor, following the arrest of Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, who is being tagged as the mastermind in the killing of Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe.

A report on News TV Live said Perete was installed as acting mayor through an order issued by the Commission on Elections and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The report said Perete assumed his new post on Friday.

The order said under the law of succession, Perete will have to take over the post of Baldo, while the latter is undergoing investigation over Batocabe's death.

Baldo was earlier arrested after authorities discovered illegal firearms in Baldo's residence while serving a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Elmer Lanuzo of the Legazpi Regional Trial Court.

Hours after his arrest, Baldo was rushed to the hospital after his blood pressure reportedly shot up and began experiencing hyperventilation while in detention.

Batocabe, along with his police escort Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando Diaz, was shot dead on December 22 while he was about to ride his vehicle from a gift-giving event at a covered court at Barangay Burgos in Daraga. — MDM, GMA News