Nueva Ecija mayor killed a day after Halili murder

MANILA, Philippines — General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote was gunned down on Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine National Police has confirmed.

Bote’s death came a day after Antonio Halili, mayor of Tanauan, Batangas, was killed by a sniper during the flag-raising ceremony at city hall on Monday.

READ: Controversial Tanauan Mayor Halili shot dead during flag-raising ceremony

Reports on ABS-CBN cite Chief Superintendent Amador Corpus, police regional director for Central Luzon, as saying that initial reports from investigators showed that Bote was repeatedly shot using while onboard his Toyota Fortuner. The shooting incident occurred around 5:30 p.m.

Bote was rushed to MV Gallego Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

The town mayor had come from the National Irrigation Administration office in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija when he was attacked.

Corpus added that the Cabanatuan City police are conducting dragnet operations against the still unidentified gunmen.

Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr., PNP spokesman, said Police Regional Office-3 has been ordered to form a special investigative task force to probe into Bote's killing. 

“The PNP will use all methods within the law to provide justice for the death of Mayor Bote,” Durana said in Filipino in a radio interview with dzMM.

Durana said they have yet to establish if the deaths of Halili and Bote are related, since Nueva Ecija and Batangas are in different regions.

The PNP spokesman added that PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde sympathizes with Bote's family.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Malacañang is confident that the PNP “would be able to conduct a fair and thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

"We assure everyone that we would discharge the state obligation for every murder.  We will spare no effort in getting to the bottom of this latest violent crime," Roque said in a statement.

The Palace also extended its "deep condolence" to the bereaved family of the slain mayor.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, president of the administration PDP-Laban party, told reporters that the news of his partymate's death is painful.  —Rosette Adel and Alexis Romero