DOJ orders probe on Italian priest's slay
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered an investigation into the killing of an Italian priest in the southern Philippine province of North Cotabato last Monday. On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima designated DOJ Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III to head the task force that will look into the killing of Italian priest Fausto Tentorio and submit a report to the DOJ special task force on extralegal killings. Baraan was also tasked to "closely coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police and monitor the progress of the investigation." "And in line with the current set-up/mechanism, certain prosecutors will be assisting in evidence gathering and eventual case build up once perpetrators are identified," De Lima said. The Justice chief's order came shortly after a group of militants from the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Karapatan, Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR) staged an "emergency action" in front of the DOJ compound in Manila, urging the agency to probe the killing. Also on Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino III vowed to seek justice for the killing of Tentorio.