Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo’s political career is in jeopardy.
Yesterday, the political party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (LAKAS-CMD) declared that they are no longer supporting Baldo’s re-election bid for mayor. It said that it revoked its Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) issued to Baldo.
The announcement came shortly after Baldo was tagged by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as the suspected mastermind behind the December 2018 killing of Congressperson Rodel Batocabe of the party-list Ako Bicol.
Batocabe was reportedly planning to also run for mayor of Daraga, Albay in May’s mid-term elections.
In a statement obtained by CNN Philippines, the LAKAS-CMD said: “Please be informed that Lakas-CMD is revoking the CONA issued to Mr. Baldo. Hence, Mayor Baldo is no longer the official candidate of Lakas-CMD for the position of Mayor of Daraga.”
The party also condemned the assassination of Batocabe.
It said: “Thus, LAKAS-CMD strongly condemns the killings of AKO-BICOL party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe and his security aide. Violence in any form and for whatever reason has no place in our democratic institutions.”
The Philippine Star reported that the party’s Executive Director Bautista Corpin Jr. already sent a letter to the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) legal department on Jan. 3 to inform them that Baldo is no longer their official candidate in Daraga.
A copy of the letter posted on GMA News’ website shows that the letter was addressed to the department’s director, Maria Norina Casingal. Copies of the letter were also sent to Albay’s provincial election supervisor and Daraga’s municipal election officer.
In an interview with Rappler, COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez reacted to Lakas-CMD’s decision by saying that Baldo is still running for mayor. Jimenez said: “No, he is not out of the race, and yes, he could end up running as an independent.”
PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde alleged that Baldo hired seven people to kill Batocabe.
According to Albayalde, Baldo allegedly started planning the crime in August when the mayor contacted a former military personnel named Christopher Naval, reported GMA News. Naval, in turn, allegedly assembled the group responsible for the crime.
Rappler reported that Baldo and the other suspects have been charged with frustrated murder and double murder.
On Dec. 22, Batocabe and his police escort Orlando Diaz were shot by two bonnet-wearing gunmen when they attended a gift-giving activity for senior citizens and persons with disabilities in the village of Burgos in Daraga at around 3pm, reported Rappler.
Both men were declared dead on arrival when they were rushed to AMEC Hospital in Legazpi City, Albay.
Baldo has denied the PNP’s allegations. The Philippine Star reported that his cohorts are now in police custody but the mayor remains free.
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