Task force formed to capture suspects in Samar priest slay

MANILA, Philippines - A special police task group has been formed by the Philippine National Police to go after the killers of a Catholic priest in Northern Samar.

In his report to Philippine National Police chief, Director General Jesus Versoza, Police Regional Office 8 director Chief Superintendent Mario San Diego said the special task group was created to coordinate all the investigative efforts to solve Sunday’s shooting of Fr. Cecilio Lucero, Parish priest of Catubig, Northern Samar.

Special Investigation Task Group (STIG) Lucero is headed by Senior Superintendent Gil Hitosis, deputy regional director for operations. The task force is composed of personnel from the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Regional Crime Laboratory, Regional Intelligence Office and the Regional Mobile Group.

San Diego said the investigation seeks to identify the persons involved in the murder and to establish a strong case in court against those responsible.

“I have assured SITG Lucero of the availability of personnel and resources of PRO8 to hasten the investigation of this case and arrest the perpetrators,” San Diego said.

In spite of this, the police authorities have not yet established a motive for the gun slaying of Lucero in Northern Samar. San Diego said they are looking into two possible angles on “politics “and the victim’s active involvement against” human rights abuses” in the province

San Diego, however, said that the said possible angles remain speculative until they could fully establish strong evidences that will pinpoint the real motive of the crime.

“Those are still speculative angles, yet we are hoping to release the initial result of the investigation in a couple of days from now. Of course our investigators are now asking the support and cooperation from the witnesses, without their involvement puwede mag-failure ang investigation which everybody’s praying na mabigyan agad ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ni Fr. Lucero,” San Diego told The Star.

Lucero 48, parish priest of Catubig Northern Samar, who also chaired the Diocesan Committee on Human Rights and Justice of Northen Samar Diocese was shot dead around 9 a.m. yesterday while driving his service vehicle, when five unidentified gunmen wearing bonnets ambushed him at the vicinity of San Jose town cemetery. He was killed on the spot.

Hit on the head

Northern Samar PNP provincial director Senior Superintendent Eusebio Mejos, who personally visited the crime scene along with Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) said in a follow-up interview that at least 40 empty shells of M-16 Armalite rifle was recovered by the responding policemen.

“Sa ulo ang karamihan na tama ng bala sa biktima, sa ganitong sitwasyon he really can’t escape,” Mejos said.

Lucero, was shot and killed in an ambush staged by some 30 armed suspects along the national highway in Barangay Layuhan in San Jose town. Lucero’s civilian companion, Isidro Miras, was wounded in the incident.

Lucero’s security escort, PO2 Eugene Bation who was also on board the same vehicle was able to return fire prompting the attackers to flee.

Bation has already given his initial statement to investigators while Miras remains in serious condition in the hospital.

Lucero, younger brother of former Northern Samar second district Rep. Wilmar Lucero, was declared dead on arrival at the provincial hospital.

He sustained five bullet wounds from an M-16 rifle and from a .45 caliber pistol in different parts of the body.

Further, sources said that Lucero, younger brother of former congressman and incumbent vice governor of Northern Samar has also been vocal in politics because of his brothers.

Early this year, Lucero announced his intention to run for Congress in the coming 2010 elections against Rep. Emil Ong.

A Samar bishop yesterday called on the government to bring to justice those responsible for the death of one of their priests, a known human rights advocate, who was gunned down early Sunday morning. – With Miriam Desacada, Evelyn Macairan and Dennis Carcamo