Tanauan Mayor Halili was known for strong stance vs. drug suspects despite alleged links

Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili, who died on Monday after he was shot during a flag ceremony at the city hall, was known for his policies resembling that of President Rodrigo Duterte in terms of curtailing illegal drugs and small-time crimes in his area.

His most prominent campaign—the "Walk of Shame" wherein he paraded drug personalities and other suspected criminals at the city center—was slammed by the Commission on Human Rights which said that it was unconstitutional.

The mayor reasoned that a more radical approach is needed to eradicate drugs and other crimes in his town.

Halili, a mayor since 2013, was then stripped of control and supervision over the Philippine National Police in his town by the National Police Commission in 2017 due to alleged links to illegal drugs.

Despite allegations linking him to illegal drugs, he continued to deny any involvement in the drug trade.

In 2016, Halili received a document from the police requesting for his surrender due to his alleged involvement in illegal drugs. The said document was said to be given to those under the police's Oplan Tokhang.

According to him, he is being targeted by drug personalities affected by his anti-drug campaign and he already has a bounty for his death.

"Kapag drug lord at drug pusher ang pumunta sa akin, magpapatayan kami. Pero tandaan n'yo, 'pag pulis ang pumasok sa akin hindi po ako lalaban," he said in an interview in October 2016.

"Daig ko pa ang bibingka e. 'Yung human rights (groups) tinitira ako sa ilalim, 'yung ibabaw 'yung drug lords, drug pushers tinitira ako. E ngayon pala on the sides mayroon pa palang PNP [Philippine National Police]," he said.

Halili claimed to be surprised at being linked to  the drug trade considering his anti-illegal drug efforts in his town.

He has been doing his own local version of Oplan Tokhang which he called the "Walk of Shame", later renamed to "Walk of Change" after drug dependents completed their rehabilitation.

His "Walk of Change" campaign had 200 drug dependents complete their rehabilitation which aimed to reintegrate them back into society. —Maia Tria/KG, GMA News