Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, accused in the murder of Ako Bicol party-list Rodel Batocabe and his police escort, had designated a municipal councilor as officer-in-charge to govern following his arrest and detention.
In his Office Order dated Jan. 22, Baldo appointed Joey Marcellana as OIC of the Office of the Mayor, temporarily replacing him following his detention and hospitalization generated by asthma attack.
Marcellana was Daraga’s number 5 councilor and vice mayor bet and an ally of Baldo despite running under different political parties in the upcoming May 2019 elections.
Some local government unit observers said Baldo might have violated the law on succession after he skipped the appointment of his vice mayor, Victor Perete, one of Baldo’s strong opponents, aside from Batocabe in the forthcoming May elections.
But a day after he designated Marcellana as OIC, Baldo issued another memorandum directing personnel in the office of the mayor to perform their duties in their respective offices.
In effect, Baldo still wanted to remain mayor of Daraga despite having an OIC.
“On the basis of my constitutional presumption of innocence as suspect, I am directing all Department Heads, Chief (sic) of Offices and other personnel concerned to perform their office function normally,” Baldo’s second memorandum reads.
“In the exigency of the service, and due to the succeeding occurring events which have been taxing physically and mentally to undersigned leading to eventual hospitlization for life-threatening condition you are hereby designated Officer-in-Charge of the Mayor’s Office,” read Baldo’s memo.
“All documents that require my signature should therefore be signed by the undersigned. For STRICT COMPLIANCE,” the memo signed by Baldo reads.
Meanwhile, another cal. 45 pistol used in the slaying of Batocabe was recovered at a fishpond in Purok 3, Barangay Busay, Ligao City Thursday noon, bringing to three guns used in the murder seized by authorities.