MANILA — Police on early Tuesday arrested Daraga, Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo over his alleged involvement in the 2018 killing of Rep. Rodel Batocabe of the AKO BICOL party-list.

Baldo is one of the accused in the murder of Batocabe and his police escort, SPO2 Orlando Diaz, in December 2018 during a gift-giving event in Daraga.

The authorities served a warrant of arrest to Baldo for two counts of murder.

The police initially went to the mayor's house in Daraga, but he was not there, so they conducted surveillance.

"Mayor Baldo did not resist. However during the first implementation or the serving of the WOA last Aug. 22 he was not found in his addresses that’s why the CIDG Albay or the RFU of CIDG made a stakeout and surveillance in his known addresses and last night he was seen at Camalig, Albay," said PMGen. Leo Franciso, director of the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group

Francisco said that Baldo is considered the mastermind behind the murder of Batocabe and his aide.

"He was principally accused of killing Cong. Batocabe. So yun yung kanyang participation and the CIDG Albay filed a case during that time. Yun ang lumalabas sa ating imbestigasyon at sa record ng ating mga cases," Francisco said.

Last September 2019, Baldo was released from the Legazpi city jail after Regional Trial Court Branch 10 granted his bail petition.