Palace: We will bring justice to killing of Tanauan mayor

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday vowed that justice will be served to the family of slain Tanuan City Mayor Antonio Halili who was shot dead during a flag-raising ceremony earlier today.

In an interview with DzRH this morning, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace would “do everything to solve this latest killing.”

“We will give justice to the family of Mayor Halili and the town of Tanauan in the province of Batangas,” Roque added in Filipino.

President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman said he and Halili were friends, as he had visited Tanauan City numerous times before. He said he was surprised at the news of the mayor’s killing.

“That is really saddening... We know that Tanauan is a very peaceful place, many industries are located there, and it is really saddening that there is such violence in Tanauan,” Roque lamented.

The presidential spokesperson also acknowledged that not only was Halili a staunch advocate against illegal drugs, but he had also built a progressive Tanauan City.

Roque said that he has yet to inform Duterte of Halili’s killing as they are set to meet later in the day in Maasin, Southern Leyte.

The slain mayor was known to parade suspected drug personalities around the city while they bore a sign or wore shirts saying that they are drug pushers. This was dubbed as “Flores de Pusher.”

The “Walk of Shame” was later turned into “Walk of Change,” where those who completed the rehabilitation program under the Dangerous Drugs Board parade around the city to encourage treatment of those using drugs. 

Last year, Halili was stripped off of control over the police for his alleged links to the drug trade.?

— Kristine Joy Patag