NBI joins probe of two slain mayors
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been tasked to investigate the death of two mayors, who were killed in two successive days this week.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra gave the directive Tuesday evening following the deaths of Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan City, Batangas; and Mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.
“I have now given direct orders to the NBI to investigate the two murders in a row,” said Guevarra.
Halili died Monday morning when he was shot while attending the flagraising ceremony at the Tanauan City Hall. He was still taken to the CP Reyes Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.
Though known for shaming drug suspects by parading them in public, Halili got stripped of his police powers on October 30, 2017 by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) due to his alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade.
On the other hand, Bote was killed in an ambush in Cabanatuan City on Tuesday.
Bote has not been linked to any illegal drug activities as police investigators suspect that his death has something to do with politics and his family’s business interest.
Bote is seeking re-election in the 2019 midterm elections, his family is engaged in quarrying and construction business in Nueva Ecija.
Meanwhile, Malacañang said the killings of the two mayors in Luzon this week are attempts to erode the public's trust on President Duterte.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque issued the statement after Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin blamed Duterte for the successive killings of Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili, and the General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote early this week.
Villarin alleged that Duterte issued a "free license" to kill by making it clear that no one will face legal repercussions for the extrajudicial killings that are done in pursuit of his anti-illegal drug policy.
Roque, in a statement, said that the government does not tolerate state-sponsored killings and claimed that the killings are meant to paint the President in a bad light.
"There is no culture of impunity in the Philippines as we do not condone any state-sponsored killing," Roque said Wednesday afternoon.
"We continue to adhere to the rule of law and consider the recent killings of high-profile figures as an attempt to erode confidence in the President, whose main platform of governance rests on fighting crimes," he added.
Roque assured that the government will not be swayed in securing and restoring peace and order, and said that the public has high confidence in Duterte.
"We, however, cannot be deterred in our focus in securing and restoring order in the community," he said.
"Our people have acknowledged the President as 'the protector of people,' as evidenced by surveys giving him high satisfaction, approval, trust and performance ratings," he added.
Roque also assured that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will not be leaving any stone overturned as they proceed to find and capture the killers of the two slain mayors.
Malacañang has condemned the killing of Haliliang Bote and assured that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
"We assure everyone that we would discharge the state obligation for every murder. We will spare no effort in getting to the bottom of this latest violent crime," Roque earlier said. (With a report from Argyll B. Geducos)