Late Ako Bicol Party list Congressman Rodel Batocabe
MANILA, Philippines – The family of slain lawmaker Congressman Rodel Batocabe is planning to have a substitute candidate for him in the mayoralty race in the town of Daraga.
According to Rep. Batocabe’s son Atty. Justin Batocabe, there is no final decision yet but he confirmed that someone from the Batocabes will definitely run in the 2019 midterm elections.
The younger Batocabe said they are determined to continue the legacy of their father.
“Ipagpapatuloy po natin ang kaniyang magagandang nagawa. Hindi po iyan mawawala. Hindi po mamamatay ang kaniyang legacy,” Atty. Justin said.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker’s wife Girtie believes it is politics that’s behind Rep. Batocabe’s murder despite the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) report that it considered politics as one of the motives of the crime.
“This is local politics definitely. I can say my husband nationally wala siyang kaaway even personally wala siyang kaaway. He was friends of everybody. We don’t have to look so far with the mastermind,” she said.
Atty. Justin, meanwhile, said they don’t believe that it was the New People’s Army who killed his father.
“Wala po silang statement na sila ang pumatay dahil hindi pa po nila inaako. Pero sa tingin ko hindi po sila,” the younger Batocabe said.
Before his death, Cong. Batocabe claimed that his rivals were using armed groups to influence votes.
According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), substitution for a candidate, who withdraws, disqualified or who died, is allowed up to mid-day of May 13, as long as the replacement has the same surname of the initial candidate. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Joan Nano)
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