Politics is one of the motives behind the assassination of Los Baños Mayor in Laguna last week, police said Tuesday.
On Thursday night, Mayor Caesar Perez was killed after being shot by unknown assailants right inside the municipal hall compound.
According to Brig. Gen. Felipe Natividad, Calabarzon police chief, said they have no concrete motive in connection with the killings, but they do not rule out the possibility that it is politically motivated.
“That is one siguro but ‘di pa tayo sigurado ’till now, but sa course ng aming investigation, isa ‘yan sa tinitingnan natin, ‘yong politika,” said Natividad.
Authorities are also said to be talking to the victim’s family, especially since he lost his cellphone.
“During the processing of the crime scene, walang narekober na cellphone sa crime scene. So actually, kinakausap natin mga kamag-anak kasi ang cellphone ay vital, importante,” said Natividad.
Although CCTV has been reviewed in connection with the crime, the crime perpetrators are still unidentified.
The Philippine National Police has also formed a special task group that will focus on Perez’s murder.
Politics possible motive in Los Baños Mayor Perez slay – police
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Laguna has already started watching all CCTV footage in the area.
Preliminary investigation by the agency revealed that the Los Baños Mayor sustained 2 bullet wounds to the head.
NBI members also believe that the professional killer killed the mayor.
On Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte extended his condolences to Los Baños Mayor Perez’s family but denied that he was responsible for the mayor’s inclusion in his narco-list.
“‘Yong mga anak ni Perez, first of all, I’m sorry that your father died in the way it happened,” said Duterte in his public address.
“‘Yang listahan na ‘yan, hindi akin ‘yan. It’s a collation,” he added.
The President said it was his duty to let the public know who among government officials were involved in illegal drugs to no longer be elected to any position.
“Hindi sa akin ‘yan. Ibinigay lang sa akin, hindi ako gumagawa ng listahan, hindi ako pulis, hindi ako sa intelligence,” Duterte added.