The Philippine National Police (PNP) has augmented the security of the family of slain Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe as it nears solving the gruesome assassination.

It was able to immediately neutralize the six suspects who all tagged Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the “brains” behind the killing. Baldo remains at large, however.

“Then again, it’s now up to the court to appreciate all the pieces of evidence that we have submitted, but we are quite confident that we have solved the case,” said Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr., PNP spokesman.

The LAKAS-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) also withdrew its support for Baldo by recalling its Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CoNA) for the official.

LAKAS-CMD Executive Director Bautista “Butch” Corpin Jr. has notified the Commission on Elections Law Department Director Maria Norina Casingal of the party’s withdrawal of support to Baldo.

“Please be informed that Lakas-CMD is revoking the CoNA issued to Mr. Baldo. Hence, Mayor Baldo is no longer the official candidate of Lakas-CMD for the position of Mayor of Daraga,” Corpin told Casingal in a letter dated 3 January 2019.

Durana said the augmentation of security for the Batocabe family came even before this was asked from the police force.

“Even before they asked for security, definitely the local PNP office in Albay, Bicol has already provided some sort of security coverage to the family of the late Congressman Batocabe,” said Durana in a broadcast interview.

Please be informed that Lakas-CMD is revoking the CoNA issued to Mr. Baldo.

It was not clear, however, whether members of the Batocabe family are receiving threats following the neutralization of the six suspects and the tagging of Baldo as the mastermind.

So far, the PNP has the six “primary players” in the 22 December 2018 killing of Batocabe under its custody after they either surrendered or were arrested in a relentless manhunt.

Now under police custody are Henry Yuson, the self-confessed gunman; Rolando Arimado, another gunman; Christopher Naval, said to be a close aide of Baldo; Danilo Muella, responsible for buying two .45 caliber pistols used in the killing, and Emmanuel Rosello and Jaywin Babor, drivers of the getaway motorcycles.

“They gave their testimonies separately and on separate occasions, but one thing that stood out during this investigation, during this interview and revelations, is the fact that they are pointing to only one mastermind,” Durana said.

As for Baldo, Durana said the PNP is still awaiting disposition from the proper court.

Baldo, along with the six, was charged last week with double murder and multiple frustrated murder charges by the PNP.

“The court will decide whether to issue a warrant of arrest or not, but as far as we are concerned, we have a very airtight case so far against all the suspects, including the mastermind,” Durana said.

“As far as we are concerned, it is not yet closed. It is standard practice in any investigation that we cannot just close it after the arrest of most of the suspects to make sure that we will not be leaving some aspects of this gruesome murder behind,” he added.

Last Friday, Yuson publicly admitted he was tapped by Baldo, Naval and Muella to kill Batocabe for a fee. However, Yuson claimed he did not get a single centavo even after the hit job.

Prior to this, Naval admitted Baldo offered P5 million for the killing of Batocabe. He said the mayor initially paid them P250,000 for the purchase of motorcycles and firearms.

Yuson claimed Baldo wanted Batocabe dead to ensure his stint as Daraga mayor.

Prior to his death, Batocabe was reportedly leading local surveys in Daraga against Baldo.

“LAKAS-CMD strongly condemns the killings of Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his security aide. Violence in any form and for whatever reason has no place in our democratic institutions,” it added.

The PNP has filed double murder and six counts of frustrated murder against Baldo and his cohorts Yuson, Jaywin Babor, Christopher Cabrera Naval known as Tuping, Danilo Muella known as Manoy Dan, Rolando Aromado known as RR and Emmanuel Rosello also known as Boboy.