TANAUAN CITY, Batangas – Angeline ‘Sweet’ Halili, daughter of slain Mayor Antonio Halili topped this city’s mayoralty race.
Halili was proclaimed Thursday after garnering 41,757, more than 14,000 votes ahead of former Mayor Sonia Torres-Aquino.
Halili also defeated former Mayor and incumbent Board Member Alfredo Corona, former chief of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA-Lipa) Nancy Garcia and Macoy Valdez.
Her vice mayor, lawyer Junjun Trinidad and six councilors under Halili-Trinidad Team also won.
Halili thanked her supporters and promised to continue the programs of her father, particularly the establishment of a public hospital in the city.
The older Halili was assassinated last year while attending a regular Monday flag ceremony in front of the newly-built city hall.
He became popular on his ‘Walk of Shame’ campaign where crime suspects were forced to parade themselves on the streets.
Ironically, Halli was on the list of narco-politicians and was stripped of his control and supervision of the local police.
The mayor-elect said drug-related issues remain a concern.
“Pagdating kasi diyan sa drug-related problems, that is the job of the PNP and different agencies, sa amin po iyan ay pag-uusapin namin, lahat ng iba’t ibang ahensiya kung paano namin masosolve ang problema dito sa aming siyudad pagdating po diyan” Sweet Halili said.
The young Halili, who used to be from corporate world, said she will seek guidance from her vice mayor-elect. (Lyka Manalo)