Police eye 2 to 3 persons of interest in Halili killing

Police on Tuesday said they have identified two persons of interest in the broadlight killing of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili.

At a press conference, Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza said these two individuals are allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

"Meron kaming 2 persons of interest. There's also another one. They are all connected to illegal drugs," Carranza said.

On the third person of interest, Carranza said authorities are "still in the process of identification."

"The third one we have to identify among the groups kung sino sa kanila," Carranza said.

"What we are trying to zero in here 'yung motive eh who of these persons of interest can give the order in the killing of Mayor Halili," he added.

Three motives

Meanwhile, authorities also said they are looking into three motives on the slay of Halili.

"We are trying to exploit three angles on this. Kung ano man itong tatlong anggulong tinutumbok namin, pwede natin itong malink sa nangyaring insidente kahapon," Carranza said.

"As I have stated earlier, our persons of interest have relationship to drugs. That is one consideration but that doesn't mean there will be evidence or witnesses coming out eh hindi natin iko-consider. On the side of politics we are also considering us," he added.

Carranza also said they are still waiting for the statements of the grieving family and the security personnel of the slain mayor.

"For sure, a member of the family and his security have knowledge as to who would be the possible threat of the mayor when he was still the sitting mayor," Carranza said.

Halili was shot dead during the flag raising ceremony on Monday in his city with raw reports pointing to a sniper as a possible culprit in the shooting.

Police have already formed a task force to look into the incident.

President Rodrigo Duterte has compared Halili to alleged drug coddlers killed in the course of the government’s campaign against the narcotics trade—former Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and former Albuera, Leyte mayor Ronaldo Espinosa Sr.

Halili’s family already denied that the slain mayor was involved in the illegal drug trade. — RSJ, GMA News