‘Gunman’ points to Baldo as mastermind in Batocabe slay, apologizes to solon’s kin

The alleged gunman who killed Ako Bicol party-list representative Rodel Batocabe on Friday apologized to his family, saying he was just following orders due to money.

Henry Yuson backed up the Philippine National Police's finding that Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo masterminded the killing of his rival candidate in the 2019 elections.

“Gusto ko po mag-sorry sa pamilya ng Batocabe po. Napag utusan lang, nabarayan lang na ipapatay si Congressman Rodel Batocabe ni Mayor Baldo,” Henry Yuson, whom the police identified as Batocabe's killer.

Police presented Yuson at a press conference in Camarines Sur.

He was with Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año.

The police has earlier filed double murder and six counts of frustrated murder charges against Baldo and the mayor's conspirators Yuson, Jaywin Babor, , Christopher Cabrera Naval alias Tuping, Danilo Muella alias Manoy Dan, Rolando Aromado alias RR and Emmanuel Rosello alias Boboy.

Aside from Batocabe, his police aide Orlando Diaz was also killed in the attack that was carried out after a gift giving activity for senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Daraga two days before Christmas.

“Silang tatlo po, [si Mayor], si Tuping at si Muella, sila po ang nag-uusap palagi na ipapatay si Congressman Batocabe. Ang gusto ni Mayor Baldo, siya ang permanenteng makaupo sa Daraga, masteady siya [na] mag[ing] mayor kasi may pangako siya sa amin na tuloy tuloy ang kabuhayan namin; nagsahod kami sa kanya,” Yuson said.

“'Napag-utusan lang po ako ni Mayor Baldo na patayin siya. Pero wala po akong nakuha [na bayad sa pagpatay kay Batocabe] kahit piso, dahil hinudas rin po ako nung kasama kong si Tuping. Kinuha niya po yung bayad,” he added.

Yuson said that he was only drawn to work for Baldo because he had no job and he had a child to feed.

“Yung anak ko, walang wala ako, kaya sumama ako roon. Hindi ko alam na ganun pala ang balak nilang tatlo na ipapatay [si Batocabe],” Yuson said.

Justin Batocabe, the eldest son of the late Congressman Batocabe, earlier said that his father's killing in the name of perpetuating self in public office and money would never be acceptable.

Baldo has denied the charges, saying he never ordered death sentence on anybody. —NB, GMA News