Police arrests Daraga mayor for illegal possession of guns and explosives

January 22, 2019

Police arrested Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo after confiscating loose firearms and an explosive were seized from his home as they implemented a search warrant on Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Arnel Escobal, Bicol region police director, said the raid on Baldo home in Barangay Tagas took place at around 2:30 p.m.

Baldo is in custody of police where he is facing illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.

Escobal said two .45 caliber pistols with eight bullets , a magazine for an Uzi machine pistol, an ammunition for an an M203 grenade launcher and a bullet for an M-16 rifle.

Police recovered a white Isuzu Alterra, allegedly the getaway vehicle used by gunmen allegedly hired by Baldo in the murder for AKO Bicol partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his bodyguard.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) tagged Baldo as the mastermind.

Senior Superintendent Arnold Ardiente, who heads Criminal Investigation Detection Group’s ' Bicol office, said the operation stemmed from a claim by Baldo's former associates that he has several unlicensed firearms.

“We also recovered the getaway vehicle at the mayor's home,” Ardiente said in a phone interview.

Six persons are being held by police in connection with the killing of Batocabe and his bodyguard. DMS