Skip links

Skip to Content
play

Live

Navigation menu

  • News
    • Middle East
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • US & Canada
    • Latin America
    • Europe
    • Asia Pacific
  • Ukraine war
  • Features
  • Economy
  • Opinion
  • Video
    • Coronavirus
    • Climate Crisis
    • Investigations
    • Interactives
    • In Pictures
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    • Podcasts
play

Live

In Pictures

Gallery|Drugs

‘Killers have no fear of God or respect for human life’

Vice mayor from Mindanao killed on Wednesday making him the fifth local official killed in the Philippines in July.

phillipines
A Philippine flag at half mast is seen at the city hall grounds where Tanauan Mayor Antonio Halili was assassinated by a suspected sniper while taking part in a flag raising ceremony in his town outside Manila on July 2. [Ezra Acayan/Al Jazeera]
By Ezra Acayan
Published On 12 Jul 201812 Jul 2018
facebooktwitterwhatsapp

Local officials in the Philippines have expressed fear for their safety following a string of murders targetting local public officials.

On Wednesday afternoon, Al Rashid Mohammad Ali, a vice mayor in a town in the southernmost province of Tawi-Tawi, was killed by gunmen while he was visiting the city of Zamboanga. He was the second vice mayor killed in less than one week. Two mayors were also killed earlier this month.

On July 2, Antonio Halili, a mayor in the suburb of Manila, was assassinated by an alleged sniper while taking part in flag-raising rites in front of the city hall, shocking city employees and local village leaders who were present at the ceremony.

Mayor Halili, who was known for his tough stance on crime by forcing arrested criminals to take part in controversial “walk of shame” parades around his city, was also listed in President Rodrigo Duterte’s “narco-list” of politicians allegedly involved in the drug trade.

Coincidentally his assassination came days after Duterte, in a speech, suggested that vice mayors have their mayors killed to “advance their political careers”.

A day after Halili’s assassination, Ferdinand Bote, a town mayor from one of the towns in the northern Nueva Ecija province, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen as he rode his car.

Other local officials have been targeted in the same week. On July 7, a newly elected village captain in Zamboanga City, Michael Magallanes, was killed by an unidentified assailant. On the same day, Alexander Lubigan, a vice mayor in a Manila suburb was also killed.

In a radio interview the following day, Socorro town Mayor Marife Brondial, who heads the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, said all mayors are terrible worried for their safety.

“From what is happening now, we can see that the killers have no fear, no fear of God or respect for human life, so it’s really scary to be a public official,” Brondial said.

Ten municipal mayors have been killed in the country by either police or unknown assailants since Duterte took office two years ago.

Human rights advocates and opposition politicians have accused Duterte of abetting a culture of violence and impunity with his war on drugs, which has left thousands of people dead.

phillipines
Gina Halili, the widow of Mayor Halili, at his funeral. Halili was known for his tough stance on crime. [Ezra Acayan/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
phillipines
Police tape cordons the area presumably where a suspected sniper positioned himself and assassinated Halili. [Ezra Acayan/Al Jazeera]
phillipines
A picture of Tanauan Mayor Antonio Halili hangs on a wall inside his office in Batangas province, just outside Manila. [Ezra Acayan/Al Jazeera]
phillipines
Gina Halili, the widow of the fallen mayor with her family, bid their final goodbye during the funeral. Mayor Halili was accused by President Rodrigo Duterte of links to the drug trade, allegations that Halili and his family had repeatedly denied. [Ezra Acayan/Al Jazeera]
phillipines
Ferdinand Bote, a mayor from General Tinio in the northern Nueva Ecija province, was assassinated by unidentified gunmen on motorcycles on July 3. [Ezra Acayan/Al Jazeera]
phillipines
Bote was shot dead by motorcycle riding gunmen as he drove his car. [Ezra Acayan/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
phillipines
A suspect in the killing of Bote was arrested by police on Wednesday, July 11, just a day after the mayor was buried. [Ezra Acayan/Al Jazeera]
phillipines
President Duterte, in a speech, suggested that vice mayors have their mayors killed to 'advance their political careers'. [Ezra Acayan/Al Jazeera]


    • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms and Conditions
    • EU/EEA Regulatory Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Sitemap
    • Community Guidelines
    • Work for us
    • HR Quality
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Apps
    • Channel Finder
    • TV Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Submit a Tip
    • Al Jazeera Arabic
    • Al Jazeera English
    • Al Jazeera Investigative Unit
    • Al Jazeera Mubasher
    • Al Jazeera Documentary
    • Al Jazeera Balkans
    • AJ+
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Studies
    • Al Jazeera Media Institute
    • Learn Arabic
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights
    • Al Jazeera Forum
    • Al Jazeera Hotel Partners

Follow Al Jazeera English:

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram-colored-outline
  • rss
Al Jazeera Media Network logo
© 2023 Al Jazeera Media Network