Pansamantalang makakalaya sa dating Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo matapos payagan ng korte na makapaghain ng piyansa mula sa kasong pagpaslang kay former AKO-Bicol Partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe.
Batay sa 14-pahinang desisyon ng Legazpi Regional Trial Court Branch 10, sinabi ni Presiding Judge Maria Theresa San Juan Loquillano na wala pang sapat na basehan para madiin si Baldo na mastermind sa pagpatay sa dating kongresista.
Hindi pa rin daw sapat ang mga ebidensyang inihain sa korte dahil maituturing ang mga ito bilang “circumstantial” sa kaso.
Ito’y sa kabila ng mga testimonya ng sinasabing hired killers ni Baldo sa krimen.
Pinagbayad ng P3-milyong piyansa si Baldo sa kada count ng murder na hinaharap nito.
“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.”
“He (Baldo) appears to be a productive member of society, with an established family that has its roots in this province,” nakasaad sa desisyon ng korte.
Kung maaalala, nadawit ang pangalan ni Baldo matapos mabatid na kalaban nito noong halalan bilang mayor ng bayan si Batocabe.
Noong Disyembre namatay ang kongresista sa isang event sa Albay. (With reports from Bombo Radyo Legazpi)
