黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� A police officer who supposedly bragged to retired police colonel Royina Garma about his involvement in the killing of Tanauan, Batangas mayor Antonio Halili has denied having a hand in the hit.

During the hearing of the House of Representatives鈥� quad committee on Tuesday, Police Capt. Kenneth Paul Albotra denied several times that he mentioned to Garma that he was part of a team that killed Halili last July 2, 2018.

Garma confirmed that Albotra was the officer that he met in Cebu.听 Albotra, on the other hand, also confirmed to Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez that he met with Garma on July 3 to 4, 2018, but he said it was for a courtesy call.

鈥淚 remember Mr. Chair, that was Monday, 鈥榶on po ay assumption of office ni Ma鈥檃m Garma kaya pumunta po ako do鈥檔, ngunit hindi po kami nakapag-usap kasi marami pong tao.听 At saka pagkatapos po ng assumption niya diretso po siya sa conference room,鈥� Albotra said.

(I remember Mr. Chair, that was Monday, that was the assumption of the office of Colonel Garma, that鈥檚 why I went there, but we were not able to talk due to the vast crowds.听 And then after the assumption she went straight to the conference room.)

鈥淪igurado nag-usap kami Mr. Chair because ako po ay nag-courtesy call, but never did I remember saying something, anything like that Mr. Chair,鈥� he added.

(I鈥檓 sure that we talked because I made a courtesy call, but never did I remember saying something, anything like that Mr. Chair.)

Albotra鈥檚 answer led Fernandez to remind the police officer that he is under oath.

鈥淐aptain Albotra, remember, you are under oath, if ever you are involved with this group, admit your fault right now because the time will come that the law will catch up to you.听 Trust us,鈥� Fernandez said.

But Albotra maintained that it might be Garma who is confused, answering yes when asked by Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores if Garma鈥檚 claims are mere gossip.

鈥淵es Mr. Chair, we heard what was said earlier, it鈥檚 just gossip,鈥� Albotra said.听 鈥淎t first Mr. Chair I cannot think of any (reason) Mr. Chair, I was also shocked.鈥�

鈥淚 thought Mr. Chair Ma鈥檃m (Garma) is just confused [鈥�] because what she admitted Mr. Chair, it鈥檚 just gossip which she changed to implicate me,鈥� he added.

Garma, on the other hand, said it was clear that Albotra volunteered that information.

鈥淵es Mr. Chair, siya ang nag-volunteer, kaya hindi ko po talaga makakalimutan po kasi hindi ako updated do鈥檔 kung sino 鈥榶ong mga namatay na politicians.听 It was him who volunteered,鈥� Garma said.

(Yes Mr. Chair, he volunteered that information, that鈥檚 why I cannot forget that because I am not updated about which of the politicians died.听 It was him who volunteered to do that.)

Last October 11, when Garma delivered a tell-all testimony, Garma said a lieutenant colonel within the Philippine National Police (PNP) supposedly bragged about being involved in Halili鈥檚 killing.

During Fernandez鈥� turn to interpellate at that quad committee hearing, Garma admitted hearing rumors about PNP teams being behind the hit on big personalities during the past administration鈥檚 drug war 鈥� including the killing of听Halili.

READ: Garma links PNP official to Batangas mayor鈥檚 assassination听

Fernandez then pressed further, asking who bragged about killing听Halili.听听In response, Garma said it was a certain Major Albotra of Region VII, who she said is possibly a lieutenant colonel by now.

鈥淢ajor Albotra, I think he was a lieutenant colonel, he bragged about that to me before, I said 鈥榦h really鈥�?听听I asked 鈥楬ow did you do it?鈥櫶�听So he said he knows the people in the team,鈥� Garma said.

鈥淎nd they were behind the killing of Tony听Halili?鈥� Fernandez asked.

鈥淗e said he鈥檚 in the team, Mr. Chair,鈥� Garma replied.

Last July 2, 2018,听Halili听was shot while his office was holding a flag raising ceremony

READ: Controversial Tanauan mayor shot during flag ceremony听/1006035/breaking-philippine-news-updates-tanauan-batangas-tony-halili-shooting

READ: New video of Tanauan mayor鈥檚 shooting goes viral on social media听

Eventually, investigators found the nest used by a sniper who took out听Halili听鈥� located just around a hundred meters away from the site of the flag ceremony.

The assailant used the elevated portion of the area as a vantage point as he covered himself with the grass.

READ: Probers find 鈥榮niper鈥檚 nest鈥� of Mayor Halili鈥檚 killer听

Halili听became known for shaming alleged drug pushers and crime offenders by parading them around the city.

READ: Duterte: I know nothing of Mayor Halili鈥檚 murder听

Former president Rodrigo Duterte previously claimed innocence over the assassination, saying it is 鈥渦nfair鈥� for his part to be linked to the killing of the local chief executive.