(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed his condolences to the family of Rep. Rodel Batocabe’s security escort, who was also slain by still-unidentified gunmen over the weekend.
“Console yourself (the family of SP01 Orlando Diaz) with the fact that he died in the line of duty.. Alam mo pagka mag-security ka, the possibility of dying is there always,” Duterte said during his visit to the wake of Batocabe in Albay on Wednesday, Dec. 26.
Batocabe and Diaz were about to board a vehicle from a gift-giving event in Daraga when they were attacked.
Authorities have said the killing was likely politically motivated, with reports saying Batocabe had begun getting death threats after he announced his plans to run for mayor of Daraga in the 2019 polls.
Earlier, Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde visited the wake of Diaz, who was awarded the PNP Heroism medal.
