A Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) has been issued to bar controversial Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo from leaving the Philippines for his alleged involvement in the death of Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe.
The PHDO was issued by the Legazpi City Regional Trial Court (RTC), Justice Undersecretary and spokesperson Markk Perete said today, GMA News reported.
The officer-in-charge of the Provincial Prosecutor of Albay applied for the PHDO against Baldo and five other people linked to the crime on Jan. 7, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
Baldo is the suspected mastermind behind the death of Congressperson Batocabe, who was ambushed by gunmen during a gift-giving event in Daraga last month. Batocabe’s police escort Orlando Diaz also died due to the incident.
Batocabe was reportedly planning to run against Baldo as mayor of Daraga in May’s mid-term elections.
Baldo was arrested for illegal possession of firearms on Tuesday but was rushed to the hospital just hours after for experiencing an asthma attack. This postponed his inquest proceedings initially scheduled for Wednesday.
The PHDO was issued instead of an HDO because Baldo’s case is still under preliminary investigation in the prosecutor’s office.
The PHDO bars Baldo from traveling overseas unless he gets a written permission from the Legazpi City RTC, Rappler reported.
