By Martin Sadongdong
Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili was shot dead by an unidentified suspect while attending a flag-raising ceremony Monday morning, police said.
Employees light up a candle where Mayor Antonio Halili was shot and killed during the citys flag raising ceremony in Tanauan Batangas. July 2,2018.(Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN)
An initial police report from the Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A) said Halili was attending the flag-raising ceremony at the grounds of New City Hall in Barangay Natatas, Tanauan City when the shooting happened.
A video circulated on social media showing employees of Tanauan City singing the national anthem.
Suddenly, a gunshot was heard and panic ensued among ceremony attendees.
It was later found out that Mayor Halili was shot in the chest.
He was rushed to CP Reyes Medical Center but declared dead on arrival around 8:45 a.m. by attending physician, Dr. Alendrix Carandang.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde already ordered a thorough probe on the incident.
Halili was known for his controversial "walk of shame" campaign where arrested suspects were being made to walk around the city as a form of punishment.
Whether the incident was a result of Halili's walk of shame campaign will be determined in the investigation, according to police.