MANILA—Thirteen out of 18 cases of killings of local chief executives under the Duterte administration have been solved, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

Police investigation showed that the murder of Marcos town, Ilocos Norte mayor Arsenio Agustin on June 3, 2017; vice-mayor Alex Lubigan of Trece Martires, Cavite, on July 7, 2018; and vice-mayor Al-Rashid Mohammad Ali of Sapa-Sapa town, Tawi-Tawi last July 11, 2018, were all politically motivated.

A business rivalry was considered the motive in the killing of mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio town in Nueva Ecija on July 3, 2018.

The PNP said the deaths of vice-mayor Anwar Sindatuk of Datu Saudi-Ampatuan town, Maguindanao, on November 27, 2016, and mayor Mohammad Limbona of Pantar town, Lanao del Norte, December 30, 2016, could be due to clan rivalry or “rido.”

Those who were killed during police operations were mayor Samsudin Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, Maguindanao on October 28, 2016; mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera town, Leyte on November 5, 2016; and mayor Reynaldo Parojinog of Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental on July 30, 2017.

Police said the murder of vice mayor Jackson Dy of Roxas town, Oriental Mindoro on September 23, 2017, was because of a personal grudge.

While authorities considered the killing of mayor Ronald Tirol of Buenavista town, Bohol on May 27, 2018, already solved, police are still unable to identify a clear motive.

Police said the death of mayor Joven Hidalgo of Balete town, Batangas on June 10, 2017, was due to vengeance.

Meanwhile, the husband of slain mayor Gisela Boniel of Bien Unido town, Bohol, was already charged for her murder, even as authorities were unable to locate her body.

Deaths under investigation are as follows:

• Vice-mayor Aaron Sampaga of Pamplona town, Cagayan killed on August 5, 2016;
• Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan City, Batangas killed on July 2, 2018;
• Vice-mayor Jonah John Ungab of Ronda town, Cebu killed on February 19, 2018;
• Mayor Mariano Blanco III of Ronda town, Cebu killed on September 5, 2018;
• Mayor Alexander Buquing of Sudipen, La Union killed on October 1, 2018.

The PNP has also formed a National Investigation Task Group to monitor each special investigation task group (SITG) focused on each case.

“Kailangan po 'yan para magkaroon tayo ng national coordination. Sabi nga natin kapag itong SITG knows that there is a national body that oversees and holding them accountable to immediately resolve these cases, they will be held responsible,” PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. said.

The PNP said it is likely that chief executives will continue to be targeted especially with the upcoming elections.

“This is a normal trend. You can see it as well in the election periods during the past years when we are approaching election period there is a noted increase sa rivalry at saka competition ng mga incumbent yung political rivals nila," Durana said.

PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde has ordered regional offices to conduct operations against gun-for-hire syndicates and private armed groups, he added.

Durana said local executives are encouraged to coordinate with the PNP if they feel that their lives are at risk.