Gunman in Ecija priest slay held, admits killing

ANGELES CITY, Philippines — The supposed self-confessed gunman in the killing of Catholic priest Richmond Nilo in Nueva Ecija on June 10 is expected to be presented at Camp Crame today.

Omar Mallari, 25, was arrested in Barangay Arenas, Arayat, Pampanga on Friday, a source told The STAR yesterday.

The source, who refused to be identified because he was not authorized to make a public statement, said Mallari admitted using a caliber .45 pistol to shoot Nilo while preparing for Sunday night mass at a chapel in Barangay Mayamot in Zaragoza town.

Mallari reportedly executed an extrajudicial confession in the presence of his mother and a lawyer from the Public Attorney’s Office.

The source said Mallari told police that he received only P6,000 of the P100,000 promised by the masterminds of the killing, which he shared with four of his accomplices.

Mallari identified a certain Rollie Sigua and an alias Bernie, reportedly duck raisers in Zaragoza, as the masterminds, and his accomplices only as Michael, Tony and a resident of a resettlement site in Mabalacat.

Sigua reportedly planned to kill Nilo at a chapel in Barangay Valeriana, but  asked Mallari to do the job when he found out that the priest had left for Barangay Mayamot.

Mallari claimed the plan to kill Nilo was broached during a drinking spree in Barangay Laquiaos in Arayat three weeks before the incident.

Mallari said Sigua justified the killing of the priest, claiming he was involved in illegal drugs and had a pending case for rape.

Last Friday, Cabanatuan City Regional Trial Court Branch 27 Judge Angelo Perez, citing mistaken identity, ordered the release of Adell Roll Milan, who was arrested as Nilo was buried on June 15.