(Eagle News)–The family of Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili suspects the government had a hand in his murder, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Thursday, July 5.
According to Lacson, who spoke to the mayor’s kin on Wednesday, family members came to the conclusion after they supposedly discovered a surveillance was conducted on them by vehicles using “manufactured plates.”
Lacson, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, admitted that police made use of such plates in the conduct of operations against suspects.
“Itong nangyari kay Mayor Halili is a big challenge sa administration only because it appears to be stage managed, may precision,” he said.
According to Lacson, based on what he knew about Halili, he was not engaged in illegal drug operations but in jueteng in Region 3.
He said that he did not know if Halili stopped when the senator, as PNP chief then, ordered a crackdown.
Even then, he said he told the family to wait for the results of the probe.
“Gusto ko rin patahimikin yung kanilang pag-iisip, kalmahin sila na huwag agad agad na maghusga at hintayin yung kapulisan na isagawa yung investigation,” he added.
Halili was shot as he was presiding over Tanauan’s flag-raising ceremony on Monday, July 2.
Police have said the gunman could have been assisted by another.
Halili died as he was being rushed to the hospital.
Probers are looking into three possible motives: Politics, his shame campaign and his alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.
