‘Walk of shame’ mayor cleared from drug watchlist

BATANGAS – Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili is not involved in the illegal drug trade, a police official said yesterday.

Superintendent Robert Baesa, Tanauan City police chief, said Halili has no connection with any drug dealer based on their verification.

“Sa lahat nang mga nahuli naming mga suspek sa droga dito sa Tanauan, wala namang nagtuturo kay mayor na involved sya sa drugs (Nobody from among the drug suspects we have arrested in Tanauan has accused the mayor of involvement in illegal drugs),” Baesa said.

However, he admitted that Halili’s name was on the drug watchlist of the Batangas police.

Baesa said he submitted the findings of the Tanauan police to the provincial police office. He said he also sent a text message to Halili clearing him of involvement in illegal drugs and thanking him for helping in the anti-drug campaign.

On Thursday, Baesa visited Halili at his house and asked him to sign a document admitting his involvement in illegal drugs and promising that he would stop his illegal activities. Halili did not sign the document, saying it is “outrageous, unfair, irresponsible and self-incriminatory.”

Halili initiated the walk of shame campaign for suspected drug pushers and users by parading them around the city while bearing a sign or wearing shirts identifying them as drug pushers.