Party-list congressman Batocabe, bodyguard killed in Albay ambush

AKO BICOL party-list representative Congressman Rodel Batocabe and his bodyguard were killed in a gun attack in Albay on Saturday afternoon.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Chief Inspector Malou Calubacib, head of the Public Information of the Bicol Regional Police, said Batocabe was about to ride his vehicle from a gift-giving event in Albay when he was attacked at around 3 p.m. at a covered court at Barangay Burgos in Daraga.

Ayon kay Garbin, katatapos lamang ni Batocabe sa pamamahagi ng Christmas gift packs sa mga constituents nang pagbabarilin ito ng hindi pa kilalang salarin.

“Ang nakita kong prominent na entry wound (ng bala) sa kanya ay yong sa dibdib) @dzbb

— Rowena L. Salvacion (@wengsalvacion) December 22, 2018

The 52-year-old lawmaker and his bodyguard, Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando Diaz, were declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.

"Ongoing, Nag-aattend sila ng gift-giving for senior citizens and persons with disability party. But unfortunately, may unidentiified suspect kung saan pinagbabaril silang dalawa," she said.

"Immediately, dinala sila sa ospital but they were declared, parehas sila, na dead on arrival," she added.

The police official said authorities are still determining how many assailants were involved in the killing.

She said Batocabe was known among locals to go around the province giving away gifts. He is also not used to bringing along uniformed bodyguards, she added.

"In every remote area in Albay ay nag-iikot siya and he keeps on giving gifts sa kababayan natin," said Calubacib.

"Hindi sya mostly nagdadala ng uniformed personnel. Most of the time naka-civilian lang itong si Congressman Batocabe," she added.

Batocabe is running for Daraga mayor in the May 2019 elections, against incumbent Mayor Carlwyn Baldo.

Batocabe is the vice chair of the House committees on Dangerous Drugs; Good Government and Public Accountability; and Natural Resources. —LBG/MDM, GMA News