Duterte says hired killers have no value

KAWIT, Cavite — Hired killers have no value, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday, days after the murder of Fr. Richmond Nilo of the Diocese of Cabanatuan.

“These murder for hire, I hate to say this, you have no value in my eyes,” Duterte said in his speech for the 120th Philippine Independence Day celebration in Kawit, Cavite.

“If you go into the business of killing Filipinos, then I see you with no value,” Duterte said.

Though he did not specifically mention the killing of priests, Duterte’s remarks came days after Nilo was killed.

Nilo was getting ready to start Mass at around 6:05 p.m. on Sunday in Zaragoza town when two unidentified men shot him through a window four times.

READ: Priest shot dead in chapel at start of Mass in Nueva Ecija

Nilo was the third priest killed in the country since December 2017.

On April 29, 37-year-old Fr. Mark Ventura was attacked and on December 2017, 72-year-old Fr. Marcelito Paez in Jaen, Nueva Ecija was ambushed.

Malacañang on Monday lamented the killing of Nilo and assured the public its commitment to serving justice to the slain priest.  /vvp

READ: Probe into Ecija priest slay to be given top priority – Palace