Garma links PNP official to Batangas mayor’s assassination

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine National Police (PNP) official supposedly bragged about being behind the killing of former Tanauan, Batangas mayor Antonio Halili, retired police colonel and former Cebu City police chief Royina Garma said on Friday.

During Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez’ turn to interpellate at the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearing, Garma admitted hearing rumors about PNP teams being behind the hit on big personalities during the past administration’s drug war — including the killing of Halili.

“Yes Mr. Chair, it was public knowledge, it was in the newspaper like the couple na Odicta, ‘di ba namatay po ‘yon.  Mayor Halili, mga mayors,” Garma said.

(Yes Mr. Chair, it was public knowledge, it was in the newspaper like the Odicta couple, they died, right?  Mayor Halili too, like other mayors.)

“Ano ‘yong kay Mayor Halili?  Sa Calabarzon ‘yan, Tony Halili, ano’ng pagka-alam mo sa pagkamatay ni Mayor Halili?” Fernandez asked.

(What do you know about Mayor Halili?  That’s in Calabarzon, Tony Halili, what information do you have regarding the death of Mayor Halili.)

“He was shot during the flag raising ceremony, sniper po.  Chismis lang kasi ‘yon Mr. Chair, I think imported — kasi during that time po sa war on drugs, pwede pong tumawid ‘yong mga operatives […] Pinagmalaki kasi ng isa sir eh, na sila,” Garma replied.

(He was shot during the flag raising ceremony, it was a sniper.  It was just gossip Mr. Chair, I think imported — because during that time in the war on drugs, operatives can cross jurisdictions.  One of the officers was proud, they bragged about it.)

Fernandez then pressed further, asking who bragged about killing Halili.  In response, Garma said it was a certain Major Albotra of Region VII, who she said is possibly a lieutenant colonel by now.

“Major Albotra, I think he was a lieutenant colonel, he bragged about that to me before, I said ‘oh really’?  I asked ‘How did you do it?’  So he said he knows the people in the team,” Garma said.

“And they were behind the killing of Tony Halili?” Fernandez asked.

“He said he’s in the team, Mr. Chair,” Garma replied.

On July 2, 2018, Halili was shot during a flag raising ceremony.

Eventually, investigators found the nest used by a sniper who took out Halili — located just around a hundred meters away from the site of the flag ceremony.

The assailant used the elevated portion of the area as a vantage point as he covered himself with the grass.

 Halili became known for shaming drug suspects and other criminals by parading them around the city.

Garma dropped several bombshell testimonies at the hearing, confirming earlier that Duterte’s administration adopted a so-called “Davao template” in terms of the war against illegal drugs, where officers involved in the killing of drug suspects are rewarded.