ASIA/PHILIPPINES - The murder of the missionary Fr. Fausto Tentorio remains unsolved

Friday, 17 October 2014

Cotabato (Agenzia Fides) – After three years since the killing of the Italian priest Fausto Tentorio, a missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), killed by a gunman on October 17, 2011, on the island of Mindanao, "we are still here seeking justice for his death, we still do not know the reasons of the murder and there is no trial in court. The case remains unsolved". This is what is said, in a note sent to Fides Agency, by Fr. Peter Geremia, PIME, a confrere of the murdered missionary and leader of a movement formed spontaneously in the aftermath of the murder, called "Justice for Fr. Pops "(as the missionary was called).
In the note sent to Fides, the members of the movement (Catholics, activists, indigenous people, missionaries, lawyers) expressed deep disappointment at the slow pace of investigations that have been entrusted to a special team, in charge of "unsolved cases", which deals with numerous extrajudicial killings which have occurred in the country.
The investigations have not yet produced results. The Movement has reported to the police a number of people to be investigated, such as the leader of the "Bagani" paramilitary group who operated in the area of Arakan (province of North Cotabato) where the missionary was killed, and Captain Mark Espiritu, commander of the special Forces of the Philippines, who might be involved. Even the families of the witnesses involved in the investigation - now under surveillance - are exasperated, reports the Movement, and would like to return to a normal life. Investigators, however, have promised to give details of the results by the end of 2014 that may lead to the start of a trial. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/10/2014)


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