Slain priest from US — Manila Archdiocese

The Archdiocese of Manila said yesterday that the slain priest found naked inside his Quezon City last Tuesday night belonged to Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois in the US.

In a statement, the Archdiocesan Office of communications said Fr. Albert Tanghal, 50 was on vacation in the country and celebrated his birthday last Nov. 15. The house at 20-E Matunton street in Barangay St. Peter, Quezon City belonged to the priest.

He also celebrated masses at the Nuestra Señora de Guia Parish Church in Ermita, Manila several times but was not listed as a guest priest.

According to probers, Tanghal was slain around Tuesday morning after suspected robbers accosted him after coming out of the bathroom.

"His house was reportedly robbed three weeks prior to the killing," the statement said.

The victim was found dead past 11 p.m. Tuesday by his cousin Albert Remando. He became alarmed when Tanghal failed to come out of his room.

Tanghal had numerous stab wounds in the chest and other parts of the body.

Quezon City police said the master’s bedroom was in disarray and that his mobile phone and other valuables were missing.

Five persons have been invited for questioning at the Central Police District-Criminal Investigation Unit (CPD-CIU) in connection to the slay.

They were detained at the CPD-CIU in Camp Karingal Wednesday night.

In a follow-up investigation, PO1 Romel Merino, officer-on-case, said the priest’s neighbors claimed that had visitor in his house early Tuesday. – Jose Aravilla, Katherine Adraneda