Alleged gunman in Congressperson Batocabe’s killing surrenders to police 

They have him.

The suspected main gunman linked to the December slaying of AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe is now in police custody after he surrendered to authorities in Sorsogon yesterday afternoon.

Suspect Henry Yuson, a former member of the communist group New People’s Army, surrendered to an army unit in the town of Pilar yesterday, Superintendent Dennis Balla of the Daraga Municipal Police Station told ABS-CBN News.

Yuson also confirmed yesterday the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) theory that Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo was behind the killing of the congressperson.

Yesterday, the PNP alleged that Baldo was the mastermind behind the shooting and that he allegedly paid former rebels and military officials PHP5 million (US$94,900) to kill Batocabe.

According to Yuson, Baldo did offer them the money but the mayor allegedly did not keep his word and has not paid the hired gunmen, the same ABS-CBN News report states.

Yuson is now with the Albay provincial police and the director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Bicol, The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

According to the same Inquirer report, police said that the suspect also has an arrest warrant for rape.

Batocabe and his bodyguard were killed in Daraga, Albay on Saturday, Dec. 22. The AKO Bicol party-list representative came from a gift-giving event when the attack happened at around 3pm, GMA News reported.

Baldo, the alleged mastermind is the current mayor of Daraga. Batocabe, on the other hand, planned to run for mayor in the same town.

The PNP said yesterday that  Yuson is one of seven people Baldo hired to kill the congressperson.

Other suspects Christopher Naval and Emmanuel Rosello are already with the police, Inquirer reported.

Baldo and the other suspects have been charged with double murder and frustrated murder, Rappler wrote.

But the mayor maintains his innocence.

Baldo told reporters yesterday, according to GMA News: “I did not order the deaths of anyone. I did not kill Congressman Batocabe and [his security escort] SPO2 Diaz,” Baldo said.