Tanauan mayor likely killed by sniper – Calabarzon police

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The bullet that killed Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili could have come from  a sniper.

This was the initial observation of authorities from the Calabarzon office of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Police Region 4-A Director Chief Supt. Edward Carranza said that investigators from the PNP Crime Laboratory are currently processing the crime scene, and are looking at possible areas used by the gunman.

“Parang gano’n (sniper fire).  Nandito na ‘yong crime laboratory natin sine-secure ‘yong high ground dito sa tabi ng city hall,” Carranza said in an interview with Inquirer.net on Monday.

(It appears that the gunshot was from a sniper. Our crime laboratory officials are now here to secure the high ground beside the city hall.)

Carranza added that the gunman might have used a tree near the city hall’s makeshift flagpole to get a clear view of Halili.

“May mga bushes kasi rito eh, maraming puno sa harapan, sa gilid ng city hall so, nag-improvise flag pole sila dito, dito nangyari ‘yong insidente.  Sinesecure ng crime laboratory ‘yong allegedly na pinagpwestohan ng bumaril,” he said.

(There are several bushes in front and beside the city hall, the incident happened on the improvised flagpole they built.  Crime laboratory officials are securing the alleged position that the gunman used.)

Halili was killed on Monday morning, as the local government was holding its flag ceremony.  A video from the City Information Office showed the local executive’s last moments before a gunshot was heard, as the camera was panned away from him.  /kga

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