Priest-killer Manero back in N. Cotabato

After more than 23 years, a "homesick" freed priest-killer Norberto Manero Jr. finally returned to his home province of North Cotabato. Q-11 television reported Monday noon that Manero returned to his home province amid the code of silence observed by the Public Attorney's Office (PAO). It said Manero's wife and children greeted him upon his arrival at his home. Manero said he was very eager to be back home, saying he missed his home province after being locked up for more than 20 years in the national penitentiary. "Namuhay kami nang tahimik ... (ibabalik) na ang kagandahang loob ng pamilya namin (We had lived a quiet life. We want to live peacefully again as a family)," he said. Earlier, dzBB radio reported Manero was willing to return to his home province even at the risk of being killed by "enemies" whose paths he crossed. The former convict was arrested and locked up for killing Italian priest Tulio Favali in the 1980s. A "reformed" Manero was released from the national penitentiary last Friday, but kept a low profile after he left. PAO head Persida Acosta said possible threats to his life prompted it to keep Manero's "itinerary" from the public. Earlier, Acosta said Manero, who turns 62 this year, plans to take up farming following his release. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last weekend questioned Manero's release, saying Manero had killed many Moros and had yet to make atonement for them. On the other hand, Manero plans to visit Kidapawan City in the first week of February to visit the burial site of Favali and to meet with Favali's fellow priests. - GMANews.TV