MABALACAT CITY -- City officials announced Tuesday that the reward for the Gantan slay case has been raised to P500,000.
Mayor Marino "Boking" Morales, who convened the city's Peace and Order Council (POC) on Monday, said they decided to increase the reward for the speedy resolution of the case.
Marian Lucas Gantan was shot dead by a lone gunman along the MacArthur Highway in Barangay Mabiga last November 23.
Morales convened the council following several incidents of slaying within the city.
The mayor, at the same time, told POC members that he is will willing to submit himself to an investigation on the Gantan case.
Gantan's mother, Pyra Lucas, is accusing the mayor as the one responsible for the killing of her daughter.
Morales reiterated to council members that he is innocent. According to him, he called on a meeting with POC members to solve the crime problem, which is now affecting the city and his constituents.
"All we want is for the city to be peaceful," Morales said.
Vice Mayor Christian Halili said of the reward, P300,000 will come from the city government and the remaining P200,000 will come from their personal funds --- P100,000 from Morales and the remaining P100,000 from the council members.
Two separate resolutions where passed recently by the city council for the appropriation of reward money for the speedy resolution of the Gantan case and another robbery with double homicide involving couple Benjamin and Cresencia Cuffee in Barangay San Joacquin.
Another issue discussed during the POC meeting was the proliferation of illegal drugs in the city.
Morales asked the barangay chairmen to coordinate with the local police in apprehending suspected drug pushers.
“We should work together to solve the drug problem. We all know that majority of crimes committed are drug-related,” Morales said.