Gunman linked to lawmaker’s killing surrenders to cops

The man who shot and killed AKO Bicol representative Rodel Batocabe surrendered to authorities on Thursday, hours after the Philippine National Police (PNP) tagged Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the mastermind.Henry Yuson confessed to the crime when he surrendered on Thursday night, Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde said at a news briefing in Pili, Camarines Sur yesterday.Yuson admitted being the gunman and pointed to Baldo as the mastermind.Albayalde said Yuson came forward after Baldo failed to give them the promised P5mn reward for killing Batocabe.Yuson apologised to the Batocabe family for his crime.He said Baldo ordered him and the other suspects to plan the lawmaker’s killing.“The mayor wants to permanently sit (as the mayor of) Daraga and he promised us that if he were the mayor, our livelihood will continue and we will continuously receive money from him,” he said. However, Yuson said he did not get any financial reward after he killed Batocabe because another suspect, Christopher Naval alias Tuping, took all the money.“I did not get anything at all because Tuping took it all.I really have deep regrets,” Yuson said.Albayalde said another suspect, Jaywin Babor alias Jie, also surrendered to authorities in Taguig City yesterday.Babor was the alleged driver of one of the getaway motorcycles used in the killing.Only two of the six suspects remain at-large: Rolando Arimado alias RR and Danilo Muella alias Manoy Dan.It was Muella who purchased two pistols used in the attack while Arimado served as the lookout and back-up gunman.Yuson, Naval and Emmanuel Rosello alias Boboy executed extrajudicial confessions.They claimed that Baldo was the brains in Batocabe’s killing.On Thursday, the PNP filed murder and frustrated murder charges against Baldo and the other suspects.The Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Batocabe filed double murder and six counts of frustrated murder charges before the Albay Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for the death of Batocabe and his security aide, Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando Diaz Baldo has denied being the mastermind, insisting that he was being used as a scapegoat.But Albayalde said the evidence against the mayor was based on the matching statements of the suspects.“We did not teach them.They all executed their statement at different times and different dates.They voluntarily gave their statements and their statements are consistent and all of them are pointing at the mayor,” he said.Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano agreed that authorities have strong evidence to pin down Baldo.“We have strong evidence against the mayor. Denial is not a ground for good evidence,” he said.House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commended the PNP for solving Batocabe’s killing.Batocabe was shot dead after giving gifts to senior citizens and disabled persons in Daraga, Albay on Dec 22, 2018.Diaz, his police escort, was also shot dead.“I would like to commend the PNP for solving the murder of our colleague, Ako Bicol representative Rodel Batocabe and his police escort SPO1 Orlando Diaz.The House of Representatives deeply appreciates the dedication and hard work our police force have put in to go after the perpetrators of the despicable act in such a short time,” Arroyo said in a statement.“The House of Representatives also appreciates the bravery and loyalty of those in their ranks who are called upon to perform vital escort and security functions, often at the risk of their lives,” she added.“Now that the mastermind and all his co-conspirators have been identified, our law enforcement agencies must ensure that they be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.There should be no let up and stone left unturned until justice is served,” Arroyo said.