Tanauan PIO denies inside job in Halili slay

The public information office of Tanauan City, Batangas denied on Friday allegations that the assassination of Mayor Antonio Halili may have been an inside job.

The denial came after the Special Investigation Task Group formed to handle the killing said on Thursday that Halili rarely attended the flag raising ceremony at city hall, opening the possibility that the gunman might have been tipped off about his presence at the event.

In a report on GMA News TV's Balita Pilipinas Ngayon, Tanauan City PIO chief Gerry Laresma said it was not true Halili was seldom present during the flag-raising ceremony.

Laresma said the supposed documentation of Halili's weekly attendance is posted on the Tanauan City government's social media page.

Laresma also said it was not possible that the mayor was involved in the illegal drug trade.

He said they were puzzled over the allegation as Halili fought hard against the drug menace during his term. — Margaret Claire Layug/RSJ, GMA News