By Lyka Manalo TANAUAN CITY — Thousands of mourners attended Sunday the funeral Mass for Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili who was assassinated last Monday while attending their flag raising ceremony at the city hall grounds. 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) Halili’s family, friends and political supporters paid their last respects, with most attendees clad in yellow shirt at the St. John The Evangelist Parish Church. After the mass that was presided by Reverend Father Totit Mandanas, Halili’s remains mwere brought to the new city hall for necrological service and for the last public viewing. Halili’s supporters were carrying placards seeking justice for their city leader. They occupied the A.Mabini Avenue from the church and walked going to the city hall in Barangay Natatas which is more than 3 kilometers away. Halili was laid to rest at the Loyola Memorial Gardens in Barangay Santor, around 200 meters from the city hall. Joey Balba, president of Barangay Secretaries League, said that they wore yellow shirts not because of any political party but that it was the favorite color of the mayor. “This is non-political color, yellow was the favorite color of our mayor” Balba said. He said Halili was known for charitable works ever since without any position in politics though he was not a native of Tanauan. He was from Nueva Ecija. “Hindi siya taga Tanauan pero ang puso niya ay nasa taga Tanauan (He was not from Tanauan but his heart belongs here)" Balba said. Halili was born on February 8, 1946, he was assasinated last July 2. He was elected as municipal councilor in 1988 and was there until 1992. He became a successor of Mayor Sotero Olfato in March 1992 until June 30, 1992. He was elected as city mayor in 2013 and re-elected in 2016.