President Duterte revealed on Tuesday that lawmakers have yet to deliver on their promise of giving a P30-million bounty for the killers of AKO Bicol Representative Rodel M. Batocabe.
In a speech before local leaders in Lucena City, Quezon, Duterte said he has already made good on his promise to provide an additional P20 million to the bounty but the Congress has yet to its part.
“Sa awa ng Diyos, ako lang nag-deliver ng P20 million nun. Ang Congress medyo wala pa. Iniimprenta pa raw ang pera. Ako paghuli bigay agad. Sabi ko kay Albayalde, ikaw na bahala (On God’s mercy, I am the one who delivered the P20 million. Congress, they have yet to deliver. The money is still being printed. I already gave my contribution to the bounty once the killers have been arrested. So I told [PNP Chief] Oscar Albayalde, it’s up to you now),” he said.
He added he also did not know who made the commitment from the Congress but he reminded them to deliver on their promise.
“Sabihin mo sa kanila, magbigay kasi promise niyo yun, e. I don’t know who made the commitment actually but I read that just after the…tinanong ko si Albayalde, nagbigay na ba yung.. sabi niya hindi pa. Sabi ko I will look for an opportunity to remind them para mag-ano, maglakas naman ng loob ang pulis. It was solved on record time (Tell them to deliver on their promise. I don’t know who made the commitment actually but I read that just after the…I asked Albayalde if they already gave. He said they still did not. I said I will look for the opportunity to remind them, to boost the morale of the police. It was solved in record time),” he added.
The police tagged Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo as the mastermind for the Batocabe slay.
The arrested suspects pointed to Baldo as the brains behind the murder of Batocabe.
Batocabe and his police escort SPO2 Orlando Diaz were gunned down during a Christmas gift-giving event in Daraga on Dec 22. last year.
Baldo on Friday appealed to Duterte for a chance to answer all accusations against him in relation to Batocabe slay.
Image credits: Robinson Ninal Jr./ Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP