Wife replaces slain Batocabe as candidate

DARAGA, Albay --- Gertie Batocabe, the wife of Ako Bicol Party List Rep. Rodel Batocabe, was named as the official replacement of her slain husband in the upcoming mayoral race in Daraga town, this was disclosed on Thursday last week by Dennise Batocabe, older brother of the late congresssman. Dennise in an interview said the members of the Batocabe and Duran clans during a meeting decided to field Gertie as the official replacement candidate taking the place of her husband Rodel who was gunned down during a gift-giving activity in Barangay Burgos, a remote village in Daraga town Dec. 22 last year. Dennise said, “we will officially declare her (Gertie) as the replacement soon after she arrives home in time for the 40th Day after the death of her husband.” When asked how the replacement process would affect the upcoming local election, the older Batocabe said that under the situation, all votes for Rodel Batocabe in the printed ballots would be counted in favor of Gertie as replacement candidate. He said, “a vote for Rodel or Batocabe will be a vote for Gertie, anybody who votes in the name of Rodel would be counted.” Batocabe said they would coordinate with the Commission on Election for further guidance on other election-related policies and measures to be followed during the election and voting periods.