Posted on Jan 4, 2019
Philippine Mayor Was Behind Congressman’s Killing, Police Say
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The Philippine police said on Thursday that a mayor had ordered the killing of a congressman who was gunned down shortly before Christmas, and that one of the men he hired to carry out the assassination had been arrested.
The police said they would seek to arrest Carlwyn Baldo, mayor of the city of Daraga, whom they accused of arranging the Dec. 22 killing of Rodel Batocabe, a member of the Philippine House of Representatives and an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Mr. Batocabe was leaving Congress and had announced his intention to run against Mr. Baldo in Daraga’s mayoral election in May. Orlando Diaz, a police officer who was guarding Mr. Batocabe, was shot and killed along with the congressman at a gift-giving ceremony for senior citizens in Daraga, a city of about 125,000 in Albay Province, southeast of Manila.
“From all indications, as revealed by suspects and witnesses and physical evidence that was gathered by the police, the group that killed Batocabe and Diaz is a private armed group employed by the mayor that is involved in contract killing as a gun-for-hire syndicate,” said the national police chief, Oscar Albayalde.
The police said they would seek to arrest Carlwyn Baldo, mayor of the city of Daraga, whom they accused of arranging the Dec. 22 killing of Rodel Batocabe, a member of the Philippine House of Representatives and an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Mr. Batocabe was leaving Congress and had announced his intention to run against Mr. Baldo in Daraga’s mayoral election in May. Orlando Diaz, a police officer who was guarding Mr. Batocabe, was shot and killed along with the congressman at a gift-giving ceremony for senior citizens in Daraga, a city of about 125,000 in Albay Province, southeast of Manila.
“From all indications, as revealed by suspects and witnesses and physical evidence that was gathered by the police, the group that killed Batocabe and Diaz is a private armed group employed by the mayor that is involved in contract killing as a gun-for-hire syndicate,” said the national police chief, Oscar Albayalde.
Philippine Mayor Was Behind Congressman’s Killing, Police Say
Posted from nytimes.com
Philippines
Crime
Murder
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Despite strict gun control laws, many Filipinos have guns (and explosives) and aren't afraid to use them. In addition to the problems caused by deadly blood feuds, in Filipino politics the best way to neutralize one's political opponents is to have them killed (and it happens often). In Philippine national elections, if there is a death toll of less than 50 or so, the election is considered "peaceful." The Philippines is considered very corrupt when it comes to just about any official endeavor, so the use of murder as a political tool is tolerated. The use of gun-for-hire killers is not unusual for those that can afford them. The Philippines has a robust lawful firearms industry (most for export, including the U.S.) in Cebu, plus an illegal "backyard" gunmaking industry (a la the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area) there, too. In addition to individual and political violence, the Philippines also has terrorist groups, such as the communist New People's Army (since 1969) and ISIS-Philippines, that cause fatalities and casualties among the police and military. Despite this, the cost of living is low and may U.S. military retirees live there out of preference.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
MAJ Ken Landgren Best Corruption Scam Ever. If Anyone Gives You Any Trouble. Kill Them and Call Them a Drug Dealer.
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