'My father would rather die than be a drug lord,' says Halili's daughter

The daughter of slain Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili on Tuesday denied that her father is involved in illegal drugs, according to a report by James Agustin on Unang Balita.

Speaking to reporters at the wake, Angeline Halili said, "My father would rather die than be a drug lord."

"This is war against the drug lords or against drugs," Angeline said, and asked supporters to light a red candle for her father.

"For those who support my father, who believes that this war against drug lords, please light a red candle in front of your houses. Not just here in Tanauan but anywhere in the whole Philippines or the whole world... people who actually believes. Kasi this is war against the drug lords or against drugs," she said.

"See where he is right now. Hindi pa ba sapat? Hindi pa ba proof? Do you need proof black and white? I can provide it to you," she added.

Mayor Halili was shot to death on Monday morning during the flag ceremony at the city hall of Tanauan in Batangas. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the killing of Halili may be linked to his alleged involvement in illegal drugs, and added that a similar thing happened to former Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and former Albuera, Leyte mayor Ronaldo Espinosa.

Angeline, however, said her father in fact has been fighting drug lords.

"I have nothing to say to them right now, at this moment. My father has been fighting these people who's doing drugs. Kalaban ng dad ko mga drug lords," she said.

Angeline said however that she cannot blame the President if he has been given wrong information.

"Ang sasabihin ko lang, well, the President is a very intelligent man. He can speak for himself. Freely... And I cannot blame him for what he said. If he's been given false information, if he's misinformed. I can only blame the people who's making these false allegations about my father," she added.

Angeline said she is ready to provide proof that their wealth came from legitimate sources and not the illegal drug trade.

"Kasi ako, hindi ako takot mag-produce, mag-present ng kung ano ang trabaho namin. Kung ano ang negosyo namin. Anong pinagdaanan ng dad ko," she said. —Maia Tria/KG, GMA News