AKO BICOL party-list representative Rodel Batocabe and his police escort were killed in an ambush in Barangay Burgos, Daraga, Albay at around 3pm Saturday.
Batocabe, 52, was about to ride his vehicle following a gift-giving to senior citizens and PWDs when he was shot at a covered court by still unidentified gunmen at Barangay Burgos in Daraga.
Batocabe is seeking the mayoral post in Daraga, Albay for 2019 elections.
The two victims were rushed to a hospital but were declared dead on arrival.
Batocabe, a lawyer by profession, graduated valedictorian from Aquinas University Science Oriented High School. He finished his Economics and Bachelor of Laws degrees (both With Honors) at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. He also took his Masters in Public Administration from the State University.
As a working student while in law school, he worked in Congress as researcher and eventually promoted as Legislative Staff Chief. An advocate of various Bicolano causes, Batocabe has been very active in various Bicolano organizations since his college days.
The third termer Batocabe is the president of the Party List Coalition Foundation.
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called on law enforcement agencies to conduct a speedy investigation on the killing of the lawmaker.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the killing of an ally and friend, Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe,” she said.
“Nothing can justify his murder and that of his police aide. I call on our law enforcement agencies to conduct a speedy and thorough investigation to bring all those behind this dastardly act to justice. I offer my deepest condolences to his family and constituents whom he had served with much commitment and compassion,” Arroyo added.
For his part, Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman expressed outrage over the murder of Batocabe.
“His killers and their mastermind must be relentlessly pursued, apprehended, and brought to justice without delay,” he said.
“The real motive and its malevolent ramifications must be determined and established without sparing anyone. Politics must not be stained by the blood of politicians and partisans. It must be confined to the confrontation of ideas and programs in the tranquil fora of mutual respect and civility,” Lagman added.
The culture of violence must be forthwith eliminated, instead of being perpetuated, condoned, and encouraged by those in power, he said.
In a statement, Sen. Grace Poe said: “We deplore the killing of Ako Bicol Rep. Batocabe and former Mayor Talaid. We exhort authorities to act fast to make the killers accountable. This sorry history in our nation of political violence must stop.”
Senator Poe was referring to another politician gunned down in ambush also on Saturday morning, former town mayor Joelito Talaid of Kadingilan, Bukidnon. He was shot dead in Cagayan de Oro City.
Malacanang has denounced the “senseless killing” of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe in Albay this afternoon.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said authorities are now looking into the incident.
“Proper authorities are now investigating this brazen murder as we vow to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators of this felonious act to justice,” Panelo said.
“The Palace likewise expresses its deep condolences to his bereaved family, his loved ones, as well as his friends and colleagues in Congress during this moment of great grief,” he said.
Image credits: Rep. Batocabe's Facebook Account