Court allows Daraga, Albay Mayor Baldo to post bail

(Eagle News)—-The Legazpi Regional Trial Court has allowed Albay Mayor Carlwyn Baldo to post bail.

But Branch 10 asked Baldo to post a bail of P3 million in cash or P4 million in property bond not for the charges of murder filed against him in connection with the death of Rep. Rodel Batocabe, but for the charges of illegal possession of firearms he faces.

The charges for illegal possession of firearms were filed against him after a search of his residence in January yielded  two .45-caliber pistols, M203 grenade ammunition, eight bullets for .45-caliber, a live M16 bullet and a magazine for an UZI machine pistol, resulting also in his arrest.

Baldo was charged with murder after he was tagged by police as the mastermind in the killing of Batocabe and his aide, SP02 Orlando Diaz in December 2018.

Six others were charged in the crime which police said was politically motivated as it came after Batocabe announced plans to run for Daraga mayor.

Baldo is currently in police custody after he was briefly hospitalized following his complaints of “hyperventilation” soon after he was arrested.