A gun-for-hire who was allegedly paid to kill a mayor in the First District of Bohol was arrested by police during drug buy-bust operation in Dauis town on Wednesday night, police said.

The suspect, identified as Jenlord Tabog, a native of Danao, Cebu and a temporary resident of Barangay Tinago in Dauis town, admitted to police that he approached the mayor earlier this month and asked for more money to cancel the hit, said a police officer from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The confession which was made after the buy-bust operation was recorded on video, the police source added.

Prior to Tabog’s apprehension, the mayor had reportedly agreed to pay the amount to cancel the assassination attempt. The mayor then reported the incident to the CIDG.

The CIDG however has yet to publicly identify the mayor as investigations continued.

According to police, Tabog was caught in possession of a .45 caliber pistol and P81,900 worth of shabu during the drug buy-bust carried out by the CIDG, Provincial Intelligence Branch and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency near a convenience store in Barangay Tinago.

Tabog claimed that the gun was lent to him by his employer who authorities have also not yet identified.

Investigators meanwhile continued to verify information on the case and Tabog’s alleged confession, while the suspect claimed that he had been high on drugs during the days leading to his arrest.

Last month, the Senate’s committee on public order looked into the assassination of mayors and other political killings in the country. The Department of Interior and Local Government, during the Senate probe, said that 12 mayors have been killed under the Duterte administration which started July, 2016.

Two of the slain local chief executives were from Bohol—Buenavista Mayor Ronald Tirol and Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Boniel. (WM)