No link in killings of three local officials, says DOJ

July 9, 2018

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said probers failed to establish a link between the killings of the three local government officials that would support a theory that these were part of a grand plot to destabilize the administration of President Duterte.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) failed to establish connections in the killings of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote and Trece Martires City, Cavite Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan last week.

"Initial findings of the NBI show that the incidents seem to be unrelated," Guevarra said in a text message.

Guevarra tapped the NBI to check if the three killings had a pattern and sought immediate results from the bureau.

These preliminary findings of NBI seemed to support findings of the Philippine National Police.

Police had said Halili's murder could be related to illegal drug trade while the killings of Bote and Lubigan might be due to politics. DMS