Politics likely motive in Mayor Bote's slay – former mayor

A predecessor and distant relative of slain General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote on Friday claimed that mayor was killed over politics.

Former General Tinio Mayor Virgilio Bote told GMA 7 news program "24 Oras" that he had seen how heated the elections were in their town.

"Hindi ako nagbibintang, pero pag tinanong mo sa'kin kung ano 'yung most possible reason, 'yun na 'yun. Politika, wala kayong makita kundi pulitika... Kasi last election, mainit 'yung barangay election," Virgilio Bote said.

Bote was shot dead in front of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) office on Tuesday.

Police investigators were pursuing three possible leads that could lead to the motive behind the killing.

Representatives

Nueva Ecija 4th district Representative Magnolia Rose Antonino meanwhile said that she was constantly checking for updates on the investigation.

"Kung laging raw-araw, laging may update sa akin, marami pong leads pero wala po silang sinasabing eksaktong rason kung ba't nangyari. Pero nakakatutok parin po kami. Hindi po kami papayag na di mabigyan ng hustisya si Mayor Bote," she said.

For her part, Nueva Ecija 1st district Representative Estrellita Suansing worried over the province's image given Bote's assassination.

"It's really alarming. Pero ako ang pakiramdam ko nahihiya ako dahil du'n sa imahe ng ating probinsya na parang, dati, okay na eh, 'yung peace and order, tapos ngayon, sunod-sunod," Suansing said.

A day before Bote was killed, the mayor of Tanauan City, Batangas, Antonio Halili, was also shot and killed during the flag raising ceremony on municipal grounds.

Following the consecutive killings, the the League of Municipalities of the Philippines' (LMP's) Nueva Ecija chapter appealed to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for possible changes on the guidelines on mayors' security.

"Meron silang mga guidelines bago ka bigyan. So, sana, hihilingin namin na to do away with the guidelines. When you become mayor ay parang maging inherent na na magkaroon ka ng security detail," chapter President and Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand "Blue Boy" Abesamis said.

The LMP also hoped to meet President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss the matter. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News