Police say sniper did not kill Tanauan mayor

July 5, 2018

There is no evidence showing Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan City, Batangas was killed by a sniper,  the head of the Calabarzon regional police said Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza said for a gunman to be considered a sniper, the distance of the shooter from the target should be  least 500 meters. In Halili's case, the gunman was 160 meters away.

“At a distance of 160 meters, anybody who is proficient can hit the target. Once we speak of snipers, we refer to a distance of 500 meters and beyond,” said Carranza in a press conference in Camp Crame.

“Anybody who is capable and proficient in the use of long firearms. That is a general terminology we are going to use,” he said.

Halili, known for parading  drug suspects and other alleged offenders, was shot Monday morning in front of fellow government officials and workers during a flag-raising ceremony.

Carranza said police are looking at “three persons of interest” on the Halili's death.

He  said two are related to illegal drugs while the third is more on the political angle.

Police recovered bullet fragments  from a slug which they believed is from a 5.56 mm ammunition used in an M16 rifle.  DMS