Sniper’s kill: new level in rash of murders

ALL the publicized executions of drug traffickers since President Duterte assumed office last June 30, 2016 were known to have used ordinary gunfire, mostly at close range, by unidentified motorcycleriding killers or gunmen in a van. Police call them DUIs or deaths under investigation.

Firepower intensifies in police operations, when the activity is covered by a warrant, for search or arrest, and M16s are standard issue. In the July 30, 2017 raid on the houses of Ozamis City mayor Reynaldo Parajojinog, which resulted in the killing of 14 people, including the mayor and famiy members, surely there was massive firepower. Even in the Nov. 5, 2016 killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and a cellmate in the Baybay jail, long arms were used in the alleged firefight he had with the police who were to arrest him.

This is the first though since the Duterte term started two years ago that a public official was shot apparently from afar, using a sniper’s rifle.

Yesterday’s (July 2) killing in Tanauan City, Batangas of Mayor Antonio Halili breached the usual ways of assassination and used a method not seen or heard about in this country, anyway not since someone brushing his teeth at the window of his house was shot dead from afar by his political enemy. remote, lonely barangay, or at a traffic chokepoint.

Or the assassins might have found it hard to kill the mayor under the usual methods employed in other situations.