No progress in Halili murder probe
Published Jul 8, 2018 03:17 pm
By Martin Sadongdong
Justice remains elusive for the family of slain Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili even as the latter was buried Sunday afternoon.
Justice for Mayor Thony Halili. Political supporters who attended the funeral mass for Mayor Antonio Halili clad with yellow shirts seek justice for the mayor who was assasinated last Monday while attending the flag raising ceremony at the city hall.(Lyka Manalo/ Manila Bulletin)
Mostly clad in yellow and white shirts, the family, friends, relatives, colleagues and constituents of the 72-year-old mayor attended the latter’s interment at Loyola Memorial Gardens near Tanauan City Hall. He was buried at 3 p.m.
Prior to this, a “Walk for Justice” solidarity march was held by residents starting at Plaza Mabini which was attended approximately by hundreds of people.
Carrying placards bearing the words “Justice for Mayor Halili,” the people of Tanauan City were one in demanding authorities to expedite the resolution of their town mayor’s killing.
As the march proceeded to the mayor’s house at Josefa Village in Barangay Sambat, more residents joined the parade for justice until they reached Saint John the Evangelist Parish Church around 8 a.m. for the funeral mass.
The remains of Halili were then transferred to Tanauan City Hall at noon for a public viewing and necrological service before the interment.
As the weeping people of Tanauan accompanied their slain mayor to his final resting place, they also cried for justice.
Blank wall
Police have yet to identify the gunman behind the grim incident although three persons of interest were already being investigated; two of them linked to illegal drugs.
“We cannot divulge right now because we are still in the process of getting evidences,” said Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, regional director of Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A).
“When we say person of interest, it is where the focus of our investigation lies so it will be very premature if we release information about them,” he added.
The camp of Halili has yet to release a statement on the absence of President Duterte in the funeral, whom they repeatedly invited for a discussion.
Previously, the family of Halili claimed that the government had a hand in their patriarch’s death, an allegation which Malacanang denied.
This came after President Duterte announced in a speech on July 2 that he suspects Halili was killed due to his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
Halili was included in Duterte’s narco-list and was among the five mayors who were stripped of police power in October 2017 by the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Angeline, daughter of the slain mayor, insisted that her father was not involved in any illegal drug activities.
A fuming Angeline told a recent media interview that her father would rather “choose to die” than commit any wrongdoing.
She then stated that her father’s greatest legacy is helping and leading the people of Tanuan City.
“Everybody knows what my dad is fighting for, what his advocacies are. His greatest legacy is helping the people and leading them,” she said.
Asked if she’s confident that the police will be able to solve the case, Angeline said “There are still good people in the PNP and it’s up to them.”
Aside from illegal drugs, police are also eyeing as a possible motive the controversial “walk of shame” campaign of the mayor where arrested criminals are being paraded in the city proper to teach them a lesson.
Other motives include politics, an old conflict with a former general, and business disputes.
According to Epifanio Yson, brother-in-law of Halili and executive assistant at Tanauan City Information Office, the two-term mayor owns several emission testing centers and bingo parlors before he was elected in 2013. (Martin A. Sadongdong)
Justice for Mayor Thony Halili. Political supporters who attended the funeral mass for Mayor Antonio Halili clad with yellow shirts seek justice for the mayor who was assasinated last Monday while attending the flag raising ceremony at the city hall.(Lyka Manalo/ Manila Bulletin)
Mostly clad in yellow and white shirts, the family, friends, relatives, colleagues and constituents of the 72-year-old mayor attended the latter’s interment at Loyola Memorial Gardens near Tanauan City Hall. He was buried at 3 p.m.
Prior to this, a “Walk for Justice” solidarity march was held by residents starting at Plaza Mabini which was attended approximately by hundreds of people.
Carrying placards bearing the words “Justice for Mayor Halili,” the people of Tanauan City were one in demanding authorities to expedite the resolution of their town mayor’s killing.
As the march proceeded to the mayor’s house at Josefa Village in Barangay Sambat, more residents joined the parade for justice until they reached Saint John the Evangelist Parish Church around 8 a.m. for the funeral mass.
The remains of Halili were then transferred to Tanauan City Hall at noon for a public viewing and necrological service before the interment.
As the weeping people of Tanauan accompanied their slain mayor to his final resting place, they also cried for justice.
Blank wall
Police have yet to identify the gunman behind the grim incident although three persons of interest were already being investigated; two of them linked to illegal drugs.
“We cannot divulge right now because we are still in the process of getting evidences,” said Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, regional director of Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A).
“When we say person of interest, it is where the focus of our investigation lies so it will be very premature if we release information about them,” he added.
The camp of Halili has yet to release a statement on the absence of President Duterte in the funeral, whom they repeatedly invited for a discussion.
Previously, the family of Halili claimed that the government had a hand in their patriarch’s death, an allegation which Malacanang denied.
This came after President Duterte announced in a speech on July 2 that he suspects Halili was killed due to his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
Halili was included in Duterte’s narco-list and was among the five mayors who were stripped of police power in October 2017 by the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Angeline, daughter of the slain mayor, insisted that her father was not involved in any illegal drug activities.
A fuming Angeline told a recent media interview that her father would rather “choose to die” than commit any wrongdoing.
She then stated that her father’s greatest legacy is helping and leading the people of Tanuan City.
“Everybody knows what my dad is fighting for, what his advocacies are. His greatest legacy is helping the people and leading them,” she said.
Asked if she’s confident that the police will be able to solve the case, Angeline said “There are still good people in the PNP and it’s up to them.”
Aside from illegal drugs, police are also eyeing as a possible motive the controversial “walk of shame” campaign of the mayor where arrested criminals are being paraded in the city proper to teach them a lesson.
Other motives include politics, an old conflict with a former general, and business disputes.
According to Epifanio Yson, brother-in-law of Halili and executive assistant at Tanauan City Information Office, the two-term mayor owns several emission testing centers and bingo parlors before he was elected in 2013. (Martin A. Sadongdong)