Former Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo has gained temporary liberty on Saturday after posting bail from allegedly killing former AKO-Bicol Partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe.
Presiding Judge Maria Theresa San Juan Loquillano of Legazpi Regional Trial Court Branch 10 said that there was not enough presented evidence to prove that Baldo is the mastermind behind the murder of the former lawmaker.
The court order said attempted murder is a bailable offense.
“For such a serious crime that calls or Baldo and his co-accused to forfeit their freedom for the better part of their lives, the court expects the prosecution to place the smoking gun in Baldo’s hands. The spent shells or slugs found in the scene of the crime and in the cadavers of the two victims have not been shown to match any of the firearms that were registered in Baldo’s name; even those ghost firearms that were supposedly purchased by Muella and Naval at Danao City, Cebu have not been shown to have been used in these cases,” the court order stated.
“He (Baldo) appears to be a productive member of society, with an established family that has its roots in this province,”
On Friday, the court granted Baldo’s petition to post bail for the amount of P3 million per count of murder.
(With reports from Bombo Christian Yosores)
