Halili family suspects gov’t hand in killing of Tanauan mayor — Lacson

The family of slain Tanauan Mayor Antonio Halili suspects government hand in the killing of their patriarch, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

“May mga agam-agam ang pamilya na shinare nila sa akin kahapon na baka may kinalaman ang pamahalaan,” Lacson, who visited the wake of Halili on Wednesday, told reporters during the weekly Kapihan sa Senado forum.

Lacson said he told the family to wait for the result of the investigation being conducted by the police, but he admitted the pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte against Halili did not help appease their concern.

He said the family told him that Halili noticed at least two vehicles have been following his every move as early as four weeks before the killing. When the family checked the license plates of the vehicles, they found out that it was fake.

“Itong nangyari kay Mayor Halili is a big challenge sa administration only because it appears to be stage managed, may precision. As indicated by the family, may iniimply na indicators na parang may pagbintang sila sa pamahalaan mismo. All the more na dapat pagsikapan ng pamahalan na maresolba ito. Four weeks ago ginawa ang surveillance, using two vehicles na nung vinerify nila e manufactured ang license plates,” he said.

Lacson said when he was still active in the police service, they usually do a similar surveillance using a vehicle with a different license plate.

“Naalala ko dati nagsasagawa kami ng ganung paraan ng surveillance na di ka gagamit ng tunay na plaka at talaga stake out mo susundan mo,” said Lacson, a former National Police chief.

Lacson said the surveillance and the manner of killing only shows the mastermind in the assassination of Halili has the capability and resources, but he clarified that both the government and criminal syndicates have such.

“‘Yung talagang ginawa kay Mayor Halili, hindi lang ‘yung pagpatay kundi ‘yung circumstances, kung hindi man may actual training ay talagang pinag-aralan. Maski sinong sibilyan na mahilig magpraktis sa firing range, hindi lang pulis or militar, kahit sinong sibilyan na may baril at regular na nagpapractice ng marksmanship kaya bumaril nang ganun kalayo,” he said referring to the distance of the gunman from the mayor.

“Must include sa training ng police at militar ang markmanship. Pero maraming sibilyan na hindi member ng service na minsan mas magaling pa sa mga nasa serbisyo. Di naman automatically na dapat isipin natin na military o pulis ang tumarget kay mayor,” he added.

No involvement in illegal drugs

The senator said he knew Halili even when he was still a captain and he was aware of the local executive’s other activities but none of them includes involvement in illegal drugs.

“He was a long time friend, I was still a captain when we started knowing each other. He was neither a saint or an angel but, with the limited network that I have, alam ko wala siyang involvement sa illegal drugs,” he said.

He said Halili had jueteng operations in Region 3 in the past but he was not aware if the latter already stopped it when he, then-PNP chief, ordered a crackdown against illegal gambling.

“Alam ko involved siya sa illegal gambling when I was in [the] service. He respected my principle. Ang sabi niya na lang kung mahuli ako basta ipahuli mo rin ako walang samaan ng loob, I don’t know if he stopped already pero nung chief PNP ako alam ko nagpapalaro siya,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News