Cops probing all angles in Tanauan, Nueva Ecija slays

MANILA, Philippines — Police investigators are looking into several possible motives in the killings of mayors Antonio Halili of Tanauan City, Batangas and Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.

Supt. Chitadel Gaoiran, spokesperson for the police force of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon), said investigators are looking into all possible angles in the murder of Halili that include personal, work-related and business rivalry.

Halili was shot dead by a sniper during flag-raising ceremonies at the municipal hall last Monday morning.

Police authorities would conduct today a reenactment of the alleged movements of the sniper who shot Halili.

The reenactment is part of the investigation to determine the line of sight of the gunman.

Aside from the assassin’s position, Gaoiran said they would also trace the escape route.

She said investigators are still waiting for results of the ballistic examination of the bullet fragments recovered from Halili’s body, showing that the slug is a 5.56 mm ammunition usually used in an M16 rifle.

The probe team is focusing on three persons of interest allegedly linked to illegal drugs, Gaoiran said.

She said investigators still have no clue on the identity of the killer.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is looking into the possible link of the illegal drug trade to the killing of Halili.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra revealed this yesterday as the NBI started its own investigation.

The Philippine National Police, which started its probe ahead of the NBI, is reportedly zeroing in on the possibility that Halili’s killing had something to do with illegal drugs.

A team of NBI agents already went to Tanauan City and met with several city hall officials to gather information in a bid to pinpoint the killer believed to be a sniper and determine the motive behind the killing.

They interviewed officials and conducted an ocular inspection of the site where the alleged sniper was positioned.

Halili had paraded suspected drug dealers through the streets in what was notoriously known as the “walk of shame.”

Guevarra also ordered the NBI to conduct probe on the killing of General Tinio mayor Bote.

Unlike Halili, there was no allegation of links to illegal drug trade against Bote.

Cabanatuan City Police Chief Supt. Ponciano Zafra said they are investigating the link of the murder of Bote to the killing last month of quarry operator Manuel Lacsamana.

Zafra said they have not yet identified any suspect in the Lacsamana case.

Bote was shot by one of three suspects while the mayor was on board a Toyota Fortuner that had just come out of the gate of the National Irrigation Administration office in Cabanatuan City.?Bote had a quarry business in Nueva Ecija, which is among three possible motives in the killing of the mayor, said Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Amador Corpus.?

The other two angles are business rivalry over government projects and local politics.?Corpus said Bote’s quarry business and government projects are allegedly connected to the mayor’s other construction firm. ?

Lacsamana was also engaged in government construction projects.  An associate, Richard Francisco, said Lacsamana had been envied by other contractors in Nueva Ecija, particularly his quarrying concessions along Pampanga River, which were granted by the provincial government and the Cabanatuan City Hall.– With Emmanuel Tupas, Edu Punay, Raymund Catindig

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