IF there is “internal cleansing” in the Philippine National Police (PNP) targeting those involved in the illegal drugs trade, is there also “cleansing’ among politicians who are also into the illegal drugs trade? I ask this because another local chief executive was killed. Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili was shot dead by an unidentified gunman while attending a flag raising ceremony at the City Hall grounds last Monday morning.
Halili was with other local officials and City Hall employees. Before they could finish singing the national anthem, a single shot rang out. Hit in the chest by sniper fire, the mayor was declared dead on arrival in the hospital.
It was a unique assassination using sniper fire. Who are capable to do such mission? I think it’s only the military and the police.
Halili gained prominence because of his “walk of shame” campaign that paraded suspected criminals and drug dealers in his city. But President Duterte said the mayor was involved into illegal drugs. He even compared the mayor to other mayors linked to the illegal drugs trade and also killed, like Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
Was the killing of narco-politicians also part of the “cleansing” process’? If this is so, expect more politicians involved in the illegal drugs to be eliminated? And who is behind this move? Is the government behind this as part of the war n drugs’? Just asking?
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Does the police have something to do with the killings of policemen who were allegedly into illegal drugs? In Cebu, several policemen linked to the illegal drugs trade have been killed. Among them: PO1 Ryan Martus Quiamco, Insp. Raymund Hortezuela, PO1 Kenneth Pugoy, PO1 Jonathan Tilos, PO1 Batomalaque and the latest, SPO1 Adonis Dumpit.
In Iloilo City, a “narco policeman” was about to be liquidated but managed to retaliate and hit his would be assassin who was found out to be a fellow policeman. The target, who was known to have been involved in illegal drugs, was shot by motorcycle-riding killers. Slightly wounded, the victim managed to return fire and hit one of his would be assassin.
The suspects fled and the wounded was brought to the hospital by his comrade. Upon follow-up investigation, the suspect was found to be an active policeman. It was a shootout between a good cop and a bad cop. Based on this, we can surmise that those behind the killings of alleged narco cops were also their fellow policemen.
But police officers in region 6 quickly dismissed speculations they ordered the assassination of ‘narco cops.” Wala gyud kahay silay labot? Kinsa man diay nagpasiugda niini?
This elimination process is too harsh. Some of the policemen killed were not even proven to have been engaged in the illegal drug trade. Why don’t they just arrest these “narco cops” and file the necessary charges? Unless they are caught with illegal drugs and attempt to fight back like in the case of Martus Quiamco and maybe Dumpit. That’s if the statements of the NBI are true that Dumpit fired the first shot. Patay gyud ning ila.