MANILA (AFP) - A Philippine mayor on President Rodrigo Duterte's list of allegedly narcotics-linked officials was shot dead in his own office on Wednesday, police said. Mariano Blanco, mayor of the southern town of Ronda, is the latest in a spate of local officials to be slain in recent months, some with and some without alleged links to the illegal drug trade. The Philippines has a violent and often deadly political culture, but watchdogs have expressed concern Duterte's narcotics crackdown may be emboldening assailants.
Blanco, 59, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen after midnight in his office, the local police chief said.
“Witnesses said four armed persons alighted from a white van and entered the municipal hall... The mayor was there as he was sleeping in his office,” Senior Inspector Jayr Palcon told AFP. It was unclear why Blanco had decided to stay in his office overnight. The mayor was pronounced dead at the hospital and the motive for the killing is under investigation. Palcon said the mayor was on Duterte's so-called narco-list of officials involved in drugs, which was confirmed by a spokesman for the Philippines' Drug Enforcement Agency.
Blanco's killing comes nearly a year after the National Police Commission stripped him of control over the local police for allegedly being “engaged in illegal drug trade activities,” the agency said.
You can share this post!
Content
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered the Election Commission to immediately proceed with the postponed Local Government Elections.
Ratnapura District Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Thalatha Athukorala has informed Parliament that she decides to resign from her position as Member of Parliament.
United Petroleum (UP) was launched in Sri Lanka today and will commence retail fuel operations in September with 150 dealer owned and operated fuel stations.
The ‘Easter Attack April 2019 – Victim Fund has received a total sum of Rs.231. 8 million as of August 21, 2024 , of which Rs.100 million was paid as compensation by former President Maithripala Sirisena as directed by the Supreme Court, the Office for Reparations said.
Leave Comments