Abalos also a target of adviser's killers

MANILA, Philippines - Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos is also a target of the killers of his long-time political adviser, Joselito Torres, a brother of the victim said yesterday.

In an interview with The STAR, Torres’ brother, Danilo, said his brother had been receiving threatening text messages for the past seven months.

“The texters told my brother, ‘Your days are numbered. We have a surprise on your birthday.’ But because he has no enemies, he did not give much attention to the threats,” Danilo said.

Torres was ambushed and killed on Feb. 4, the eve of his 47th birthday.

Danilo said his brother was also told to be careful, along with Abalos.

“Someone told him, there are threats against you and mayor (Abalos). He (Torres) said take care of the mayor. As Mayor Abalos said, ‘He prioritized me, instead of himself. This man has thought of nothing but to protect me,’” he said.

Danilo said Abalos and Torres have been close friends since high school, and his brother used this closeness to help others. He said “there is a very deep reason” for his brother’s killing, and this does not include business or money.

“We do not believe that the motive behind the killing of my brother is about his fight with other people because he has no enemies,” Danilo said.

Danilo described his brother as a “very good man” who helps Abalos’ constituents. “My brother is a low-profile type of man. You cannot see him on camera. We are asking for justice,” he said.

The city government has closed Gonzales and Bonifacio streets to vehicular traffic to give way to those who wish to visit Torres’ wake.

Meanwhile, the Mandaluyong police has released a “computerized composite criminal illustration” or CCCI of the gunman, based on descriptions by witnesses and footage taken by a surveillance camera near the site of the shooting.

City police chief Superintendent Armando Bolalin said the killer was described to be 5’4” to 5’5” tall, with a large build and a big belly, curly hair and square-jawed.

Bolalin said Abalos offered P1 million to those who could give information leading to the arrest of Torres’ killers. The Philippine National Police, on the other hand, has created a special task force headed by the Eastern Police District director.