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DOJ leaves Halili slay probe with PNP

DOJ leaves Halili slay probe with PNP

By Patrick Garcia

By Jeffrey Damicog Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Monday he will remain hands off in the investigation on the assassination of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra announces during a press briefing in Malacañang that the matter concerning the closure of the resorts in Boracay is currently one of the top priorities that are being discussed by the cabinet citing that it would not only concern the environmental aspect of the issue but the economic impact as well. (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
(TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Guevarra explained that there was no need yet for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which is under the Department of Justice (DOJ), to join the probe which is already being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP). “We’ll leave it muna sa PNP,” the Secretary said in a text message. On the other hand, Guevarra assured that the NBI will enter the investigation if there is a need to do so. “I’ll get the NBI involved as circumstances may warrant,” he stated. Halili died Monday morning after being gunned down while attending the city hall’s flag raising ceremony. The Mayor was rushed to the CP Reyes Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival. Reports said Halili was believed to have been shot by a sniper using a M-14 rifle with scope. Though known for shaming drug suspects by parading them in public, Halili got stripped of his police powers last October 30, 2017 by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) due to his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. Apart from him, there were also four other Southern Tagalog mayors stripped of their police powers at that time, namely, Eulalio Alilio of Lemery, Batangas; Raul Paulino of Terese Rizal; Cecilio Hernandez of Rodriguez, Rizal; and Loreto Amante of San Pablo, Laguna.

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