Roda’s killers unmasked

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police have identified the killers of Catholic priest Fr. Reynaldo Roda.

Superintendent Wayneright Taup, Tawi-Tawi police director, said witnesses are pointing to Abu Sayyaf commander Asman Sawajaan and one of his men, Salvador Akili.

Sawajaan led the band that snatched Roda from a Catholic convent in Tawi-Tawi last Tuesday, he added.

In a report to Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police director, Taup said Sawajaan and his men dragged Roda while he was praying, hogtied the priest and shot him in cold blood when he fought back.

The kidnappers then fled and took hostage Omar Taup, the principal of Notre Dame School. It could not be determined as of press time if the principal is related to the Tawi-Tawi police commander.

Earlier, Goltiao said one of the suspected killers of Roda was a former Bantay Dagat security personnel, who turned out to be Akili.

Troops from the Naval Task Force 62 and the 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team continued to scour the islands and islets of Tawi-Tawi following reports the kidnappers were spotted in Languyan island.

The police and military forces have asked villagers to help monitor the whereabouts of the fleeing suspects. – Roel Pareño