Slain Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote laid to rest

Slain General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote was laid to rest Tuesday morning, a week after he was shot dead by unidentified suspects in Cabanatuan City.

According to a Balitanghali report by GMA News' Bam Alegre, Bote's remains were transferred to Bethany Church in General Tinio from the Papaya Sports Center before 7 a.m.

His family requested for an hour of moment with the mayor, as days of his wake had mostly been opened to the public.

A Mass was held at 8 a.m., followed by a funeral march attended by his townsmen wearing white.

Written in their white shirts were words calling for justice for Mayor Bote's death.

The cemetery was newly opened and Mayor Bote will be the first one to be buried there, the report said.

His family held a press conference where they thanked the relatives and supporters who attended the funeral.

Mayor Bote was on board his vehicle on July 3 when he was repeatedly shot with a short firearm by motorcycle-riding suspects around 4:30 p.m. outside the office of National Irrigation Administration.

The mayor's death followed the assassination of Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili and precedes the killing of Trece Martires City Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan last Saturday.

Police believe the fatal attacks on the officials were not connected, based on initial reports. — RSJ, GMA News