QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has turned the two suspects in the murder of Ako Bicol Party list Rep. Rodel Batocabe into witnesses which the family of the slain lawmaker approved.
Batocabe’s eldest son Atty. Justin, however, said he might forgive the two suspects even the rest of the gunmen in due time, but never the mastermind.
“As for me, ang sabi ko nga halikan ko pa mga kamay nila. Ituro lang nila ang mastermind. Iyon ang importante ang mastermind. Maybe siguro time will tell baka mapatawad ko pa iyong mismong gunmen. Maybe. Pero iyong mastermind ibang usapan na iyon,” Atty. Justin said.
The Batocabes also approves giving the reward money to the two surrenderers for providing the authorities the name of the mastermind in the crime.
Rep. Batocabe’s eldest son reiterated that they believe it was not the New People’s Army (NPA) who was behind his father’s killing.
He, however, refused to name the mastermind saying it is up to the PNP to reveal who ordered the assassination of his father.
“My dad has been congressman for almost 9 years now and he has gone to numerous areas and farther places of Bicol without being harassed, injured or in any case acted in violence upon by the NPA or any other leftist organization. I’d like to emphasize that one of the collateral damages, one of the lolas’ shot is actually the aunt of the local (NPA) commander so close to impossible,” he said.
As of press time, the Batocabes has not filed any charges yet against the suspects.
Meanwhile, Atty. Justin is thankful for the efforts of the PNP in solving his father’s case. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Lea Ylagan)
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