Halili slay

Duterte links killing of Tanauan city mayor to narcotics

WHILE his spokesperson vowed that justice will be served for slain Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili, President Rodrigo Duterte trivialized the mayor’s death and said it might be linked to the narcotics trade.

Halili, who was known for his “walk of shame” program that required drug suspects to walk along the city streets with placards stating their offenses, was also in the President’s list of narco-politicians.

“Kanina si Halili sa Batangas, (napatay). Artearte pa... Siya itong... Kunwari malala (ang problema sa illegal drugs sa lugar niya). Kunwari itong mga adik iyang i-prusisyon. Siya pala. Siya yun. Kanina patay (Halili in Batangas was killed earlier. It’s just drama. He made a show of parading the drug addicts. But it was him. He was killed),” Duterte said in a speech in Maasin City, Leyte Monday, July 2.

“Ako nabalitaan ako, si Halili namatay. Pero suspetsa ko iyang droga. Suspek lang (I just heard the news that Halili was killed. I suspect it is related to drugs. I just suspect),” he added.

Halili was shot while singing the national anthem during the flag ceremony in front of the Tanauan city hall at about 7:30 a.m. Monday. He was declared dead at 8:45 a.m. from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Halili lost supervision and control over the police in 2017 because of his supposed involvement in illegal drugs. The slain mayor had denied the allegation.

Earlier Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Malacañang condemned the killing of Halili.

Roque also assured that the government would seek justice for Halili’s death.

“Lahat po gagawin para malutas itong latest na pagpatay na ito. Bibigyan po natin ng katarungan ang pamilya ni Mayor Halili at ang bayan ng Tanauan sa probinsya ng Batangas (We will do all our best to solve the latest killing [of Halili]. We will give justice to Mayor Halili’s family and to the residents of Tanauan City in Batangas province),” the Palace official said.