DOJ asked to resolve killing of Italian missionary

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been asked to finally resolve the killing of Italian missionary Fausto “Pops” Tentorio inside his parish in Arakan town, Cotabato on Oct. 17, 2011.

Colleagues of Fr. Tentorio and their lawyer Gregorio Andolana lamented why no case has been filed yet against the killers, who were not even ascertained yet, more than three years after the murder.

“On the murder case, we still lack witnesses that can testify that they saw these people as the actual shooters,” said Andolana who met with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

De Lima attributed the delay to conflicting statements of two sets of witnesses during probes of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine National Police.

She told reporters in an interview that the prosecutors started their preliminary investigation when the murder case was remanded to law enforcers for reinvestigation.

De Lima bared that the NBI has reinvestigated the case and is preparing a progress report.

Andolana said they are contemplating to file an attempted murder case based on the testimonies of witnesses on the foiled attempt to kill Tentorio on Oct 10, 2011 by the paramilitary group Bagani Special Force.

The lawyer also claimed the case is “more complicated because of manipulations.” He said the latest witness pointed to some local politicians as alleged masterminds of the killing of Tentorio.