PNP forms task group to probe killing of Nueva Ecija priest

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday said he has ordered the regional director of Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon) to form a special team that will investigate the killing of a priest in Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija.

Father Richmond Nilo was gunned down by still unidentified suspects while he was about to officiate a 6 p.m. Mass in a chapel in Barangay Mayamot in Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija.

Special Investigation Task Group "Nilo" headed by Nueva Ecija police provincial director Senior Superintendent Eliseo Tanding is "now working on more evidence to establish the possible motive of the killing," said Central Luzon regional director Chief Superintendent Amador Corpus.

"As of this time, nando'n personally yung regional director ng Police Regional Office 3, I directed him to establish and create an SITG or Special Investigation Task Group to look into the killing of Father Nilo. Kanina ang sabi niya, ng kanilang madaling araw ay nagcoconduct pa ng SOCO," Albayalde said at a press briefing in Camp Crame.

The investigators, however, have yet to determine the motive of the suspects.

"Wala pa silang nakikitang motive at wala pa silang mga suspects or persons of interest as of this time," Albayalde said.

Corpus, meanwhile, assured that an in-depth probe is underway to ensure that "no stone will be left unturned to immediately identify and arrest the perpetrators."

Nilo is the third priest killed in the span of six months. In December, motorcycle-riding gunmen have killed Fr. Marcelito Paez, a parish priest in Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

This was followed by the killing of Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura who was also shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen late April after officiating a Mass in Barangay Piña in Gattaran town, Tuguegarao. — RSJ, GMA News