BATANGAS CITY – Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas mourns the loss of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili, after an unidentified assassin gunned down the local city chief executive during Monday’s flag-raising rite at the Tanauan City hall.
In an official statement in Filipino released to the media on Monday, Mandanas expressed condolences and extended the sympathy of the Batangueños on the mayor’s untimely demise.
“Bilang Ama ng Lalawigan ng Batangas, at may direktang superbisyon sa mga Mayor, ako, kasama ang buong sambayanang Batangueño, ay nalulungkot at nakikidalamhati sa pagpanaw ng Ama ng Lungsod ng Tanauan, Mayor Antonio Halili (As father of the province of Batangas, and has direct supervision over mayors, I, together with the entire Batangueño constituents, am saddened and deeply mourn the death of the father of the City of Tanauan, Mayor Antonio Halili),” Mandanas’ statement said.
He also condemned the shooting incident, saying the killing is a big challenge to the peace and order of the province as he immediately called for the law enforcement agencies in particular the police to intensify their efforts in safeguarding to ensure the safety and security of every Batangueño.
“Ang ganitong pangyayari ay ating kinokondena at ito ay isang malaking hamon sa kalagayan ng katahimikan ng kabuuan ng lalawigan, kaya’t agaran nating pinaaalalahanan ang ating mga ahensya ng batas partikular ang ating kapulisan na pag-ibayuhin ang pagbabantay para siguraduhin ang kaligtasan ng bawat mamamayang Batangueño (We condemn this kind of incident and this is a big challenge to the peace and order in the province. That is why we are reminding our law agencies particularly the police to intensify its vigilance to ensure the safety of our citizens),” Mandanas said.
On behalf of the entire province of Batangas and of Tanauan City constituents, he also commiserated with the Halili family who were grief-stricken by the death of their father and city mayor.
Mandanas also appealed to his province mates to continue to pray for peace in the province as he calls for long-lasting peace for everyone through intercession from God. (Saul Pa-a/PNA)
