Police get a match on gunman’s weapon, shells at Batocabe crime scene

THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) confirmed that the recovered gun shells and slugs from the site where AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel M. Batocabe was killed matched with the weapon used by gunman Henry Yuson. According to the ballistics examination conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory, 11 shells and five slugs from the crime scene matched with the caliber .40 pistol used by the killer last Dec. 22. Police chief Oscar D. Albayalde, in a press briefing on Monday, Jan. 7, said, “Even without the real firearms, pero the shells na nag-positive, na nag-match dun sa record ni Yuson dito. Then malakas ang ebidensya natin (but the shells made a positive match with our records of Yuson here. Then we have strong evidence).” He added that they are also still looking at different possible motives on the crime. Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo has been named as the mastermind of the murder, an accusation he has denied. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras