EDITORIAL - Who was responsible?

Before he was killed, Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco III was one of those local government executives allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade as claimed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Police also included politics as possible motive behind his death as his name came up in the death of his nephew, the vice mayor of the town, few months ago.

For months prior to his death, Blanco was living in his office inside the municipal hall building. It was clear he feared for his life in the wake of those accusations, especially the one naming him as a narco politician.

Then at least four unidentified persons barged into his office Wednesday dawn and shot him. The municipal hall is just few meters away from the town’s police station, prompting many to criticize the local police force’s failure to immediately respond to the incident.

What is really the motive behind Blanco’s murder? Should investigators consider politics as a leading angle? But Ronda has no history of intense political rivalry involving Blanco, whose family has been into politics for decades.

Since Blanco was included in the narco list of Duterte, many have tied his killing to drug allegations. However, as to how the police investigators will go about the drug angle remains to be seen.

Granting they find conclusive evidence linking Blanco’s death to drug accusations, who should be held liable for his murder? The state, because the mayor was included in the president’s drug list?

Just like the case of other slain local government officials who were in Duterte’s list, the investigation into Blanco’s killing won’t yield real answers as to the real cause of his death, especially that no one from among the perpetrators was identified.

We want those responsible for Blanco’s killing to be arrested and to face charges before the court. Therefore, authorities should see to it that, whatever the cause of his death, justice must be served.