PNP respects court decision granting Baldo bail

September 4, 2019

The Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Wednesday said they respect the decision of the court allowing former Daraga mayor Carlwyn Baldo to post bail but they believe the evidence they have against him is strong enough to merit for his conviction.

“The PNP respects the decision of the court and we will continue on monitoring and being alert for any incident that may transpire in Bicol Region that could be possibly connected to the posting of bail of former Mayor Baldo,” Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said in a press briefing.

Banac said they have prepared an airtight case against Baldo even if the court said their evidence is not strong enough.

“This is a challenge to the PNP that when we conduct investigation, we should file an airtight case at the prosecutor’s office so that once it reach the court, the suspect will really pay for it,” he said.

“It still depends on the appreciation of the court but as far as the PNP is concerned, we have prepared an airtight case and we’ve filed a case against former Mayor Baldo and we believe that all the evidence we have submitted are all strong to merit conviction later,” he added.

Baldo posted P8.72 million bail after the Legazpi City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 granted his petition.

But Police Brigadier General Arnel Escobal, the Bicol regional director, the former mayor cannot be released yet due to a pending motion for reconsideration filed by the prosecution against granting him bail.

“MR ( motion for reconsideration) must be resolved first before Baldo could be released,” Escobal said in a text message to reporters.

On Monday, Police General Oscar Albayalde said they will exhaust all legal remedies against Baldo, the alleged mastermind behind the death of Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Rodel Batocabe and his police escort on December 2018.  Ella Dionisio/DMS