Legazpi City”•Daraga town Mayor Carlwyn Baldo on Friday surrendered at the Legazpi City Regional Trial Court.
Police spokesman Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib said Baldo, who was accompanied by his family and lawyer, appeared before RTC Branch 10 Judge Maria Theresa San Juan-Loquillano around 8:30 a.m.
Calubaquib said the judge ordered Baldo to be detained at the Legazpi City jail pending his arraignment on May 30.
Baldo had been in hiding since Monday after Loquillano issued an arrest warrant against him for double murder and six counts of attempted murder over the killing of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police escort at a gift-giving event in Burgos village, an upland village in Daraga, on Dec. 22 last year.
Loquillano was tasked to hear two separate cases against Baldo, the first case for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and the second for double murder and attempted murder together with six others.
Vice Mayor Victor Perete is waiting for an order from the Interior department to assume the position of acting town mayor following Baldo’s surrender.
Region 5 Interior department Director Anthony Nurda said Perete would have to take over the post to avoid any “vacuum or hiatus” in the town’s operations.
Aside from Baldo and Perete, also running for the town’s mayoral post is Batocabe’s widow Gertrudes.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said there will be no special treatment for Baldo.