Here comes the twist.
Hours after he was arrested yesterday for illegal possession of firearms, Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo was rushed to the hospital last night for suffering what was believed to be an asthma attack.
Baldo is the suspected mastermind behind the killing of Congressperson Rodel Batocabe of the party-list group Ako Bicol. Batocabe was reportedly planning to run against Baldo as mayor of Daraga, Albay in this year’s elections.
Batocabe was gunned down with his security escort on Dec. 22 by bonnet-wearing gunmen during a gift-giving event in the village of Burgos, also in Daraga.
Baldo hyperventilated and his blood pressure went up while inside his detention cell, according to Senior Supt. Arnold Ardiente of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Bicol, reported The Philippine Daily Inquirer.
In a separate interview with Rappler, Ardiente said that Baldo suffered an asthma attack. He was brought to the University of Santo Tomas Hospital in Legazpi City for treatment at around 11pm. Baldo didn’t inform the police that he has a history of asthma during the booking procedure after his arrest, according to Ardiente.
The mayor is supposed to have his inquest proceedings today but his doctors have not disclosed when he could be released from the hospital, ABS-CBN News reported.
Baldo was arrested yesterday 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.
ABS-CBN News reported that the firearms were found buried near a hut inside the compound which Baldo owns. Also confiscated from Baldo was an Isuzu Alterra which was allegedly used by the gunmen as their getaway car after killing Batocabe.
According to Philippine National Police Chief Director Oscar Albayalde, Baldo hired seven men to kill Batocabe. All suspects whom Baldo allegedly hired have pointed to the mayor as the mastermind behind the killing.
According to GMA News, Baldo has denied masterminding Batocabe’s slay. He also said that he was just being used as a scapegoat while the real mastermind remains free.
Earlier this month, the political party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (LAKAS-CMD) announced that they are no longer supporting Baldo in his re-election bid for mayor.
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