Fewer public appearances for Batangas mayor since threats escalated, says exec
TANAUAN CITY, Philippines (The Filipino Connection) — Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili has minimized his public appearances in the days leading to his assassination Monday, following threats against his life in his tough stance against criminality.
The city government’s public information officer, Gerard Laresma, said the security team has been strict that they had to choose which events the late Halili would surface himself.
“Actually, way way back there were threats he had been receiving so there were some invitations to the wedding that he would skip as our security and they’re not overconfident. They would advise the mayor to send a substitute or proxy,” Laresma told reporters hours after the mayor was shot by an alleged sniper while attending Monday’s flag raising ceremony at city hall.
Aside from weddings, Halili was not also visible during the annual lighting of Christmas tree in December 2017. Halili was also less visible during the celebration of the city’s foundation day anniversary last March 10, culminating with the Fifth Parade of Lights Festival.
On some occasions that Halili had to appear publicly, like the peace covenant signing of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates held at the Tanauan City Gymnasium 2 last April 28, Halili would wear a bullet proof vest.
“Yun ngang stature ni mayor pero very openly yung kanyang magdeclare ng ano against criminality. Kumbaga talagang alam niyang may mga ganung threats and may mga ganung klaseng risks sa kanya,” Laresma said.
“Kasi lagi niyang sinasabi eh if this kumbaga this is the price he has to pay for doing yung kanyang job being mayor very active sa campaign against criminality ngayon pa ba naman siya matatakot eh…kumbaga sa kanya nga na yung kanyang lifelong dream na malinis ang Tanauan. Alam naman nating lahat na Tanauan used to be the (nitoruous) hotbed if illegal drugs. Ang legacy nya during his term eh ma-eradicate nya yung menace ng illegal drugs dito sa Tanauan,” Laresma added.
It is to be recalled that the National Police Commission (Napolcom) stripped Halili and other mayors across the country of police control given allegations of their links to the illegal drug trade. When this order came out November 9th last year, Halili denied the allegations.
On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte initially said Halili may have been “suspect” to be linked to illegal drugs. That until Duterte said next that he is unsure of the allegations against Halili.
Days after Halili received a text message from Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas that the former had been stripped of police powers on October 19, the city told the media he’s also afraid of his security given the fate of other mayors.
“I’m not afraid of the drug lords but I’m afraid of the PNP (Philippine National Police) because they could kill me anytime,” Halili previously said.
Halili also described the Napolcom decision as “unfair” noting that he had not been accorded due process. The report, Halili said that time, was only based on an intelligence information that could have been fabricated by his enemies to oust him from office.
Halili also said that one of his “kababayans” close to Malacanang Palace who had plans to run in 2019 may have masterminded the said “fabricated allegation.” This person was not named, though.
Halili’s legal team has since appealed the Napolcom decision. No decision was rendered until Halili’s passing Monday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said that Malacanang condemns the killing of Halili and vowed justice will be served.
“Kanina si Halili sa Batangas. Kunwari ipa-procession ang mga addicts, siya pala, siya ‘yun,” Duterte said in a speech on Monday during the anniversary of Maasin City, Southern Leyte.
“I suspect he was into drugs. I just suspect,” the president added, in Visayan language.
Previously, the city government used to hold their flag raising ceremonies in front of the new city hall building located in Laurel Hill at Barangay Natatas.
But Laresma said the ceremonies were later transferred to an area beside the said establishment to take advantage of the shade from sunlight.
Some observers believed this put the mayor’s life on the line and made him an easy target for the sniper. Initial police investigation showed the alleged sniper was reportedly positioned in an elevated grassland 150 meters away from the area, which is an open space.
Laresma described the mood of city employees as “gloomy” in nature. This can be seen from their faces how much they mourn the loss of the city’s chief executive who has ruled for the past five years. But he says the operations of the city hall would continue.
“I believe if he’s still alive that’s what the mayor would want us to do: to continue service to the people. He’s even disappointed whenever there were holidays as it would only delay the delivery of services,” Laresma ended.
“This investigation wont stop us from delivering our services (to the people).”
Halili was shot by an alleged sniper while attending a flag raising ceremony at the cityhall grounds at 8:10 a.m. He was rushed to the CP Reyes Hospital but doctors declared him dead on arrival at around 8:45 a.m.
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