Halili died from hypovolemic shock or severe blood loss —autopsy

Police on Tuesday said that slain Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili died of severe blood loss or hypovolemic shock.

This was among the findings of an autopsy conducted on Halili, who was shot dead while attending a flag ceremony in the city hall in Batangas on Monday morning, a QRT report said.

Hypovolemic shock happens when severe blood or fluid loss makes the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body, causing many organs to stop working.

However, a separate 24 Oras report by Ian Cruz also said the mayor's heart had burst from the bullet's impact.

"Base doon sa nakita kong result ng autopsy, talagang 'yung kanyang puso talagang totally sabog siya. Sabi nga sa akin, no amount of process or procedure of revival can really save the mayor," said Tanauan city administrator Herminigildo Trinidad Jr.

Police are already eyeing two to three persons of interest in the murder.

Authorities are also speaking to witnesses who supposedly saw two men leaving the grassy area where the gunman allegedly positioned himself.

"Meron po tayong mga saksi na kinukunan na po natin ng pahayag kasi may nakakita na sumakay doon sa sasakyan palabas ng Loyola Memorial Park," said Tanauan police chief Superintendent Renato Mercado.

President Rodrigo Duterte directly linked the assassination to Halili's supposedly having been involved in the narcotics trade, but the slain mayor's family has denied the allegation. — Anna Felicia Bajo/MDM/BM, GMA News