Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo posts bail for illegal possession of firearms; will resume post

Screenshot from Mayor Carlwyn Baldo’s Facebook Live conference. Photo: ABS-CBN News.
Screenshot from Mayor Carlwyn Baldo’s Facebook Live conference. Photo: ABS-CBN News.

Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo is going to be free.

Baldo, who was imprisoned for illegal possession of firearms, was granted bail yesterday afternoon by the Legazpi City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10.

CNN Philippines reported that Baldo’s bail was PHP3 million (US$57,665), and Judge  Maria Theresa Loquillano granted it. However, as of yesterday, he had to stay at the Legazpi Police Office because the RTC has yet to issue a release order.

The Commission on Elections said that Baldo will resume his work as mayor once he’s free, Rappler reported.

Baldo is the suspected mastermind behind the killing of Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe. Batocabe, who was reportedly planning to run for Daraga mayor in this year’s elections, was gunned down with his bodyguard on Dec. 22 during a gift-giving pre-Christmas event in Daraga.

Baldo will now be running against Batocabe’s widow, Gertie Duran-Batacobe who has taken her husband’s place in the mayoralty race, reported Rappler.

In her seven-page order, Loquillano pointed out that the prosecutors failed to file a case against Baldo, which was the reason why he was granted bail, The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

According to the same report, the first panel of prosecutors inhibited themselves from handling Baldo’s case, leading the regional state prosecutor to assign a new group of prosecutors from Camarines Sur.

However, the Legazpi RTC said that the new batch of prosecutors refrained from making any statements on the strength or weakness of Baldo’s case because it still hasn’t started a formal investigation.

In granting bail, the court made several conditions for Baldo: he has to show up in court whenever it was required, report to the police weekly, refrain from publicly discussing his case, and immediately surrender once he is charged.

Baldo was arrested on Jan. 22 after unlicensed firearms were allegedly found inside his residence in the village of Tagas in Daraga, CNN Philippines reported. The authorities allegedly found two caliber .45 pistols with bullets and ammunition.

Things took a dramatic turn when he suffered an asthma attack a day after his arrest when he was inside his detention cell. Baldo was rushed to the hospital. He returned to the Legazpi City Police 12 days after.



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