INQUIRER FILES
TACLOBAN CITY — Police investigators have launched an investigation into the shooting of a missionary nun in Barangay Burabud, Kawayan town, Biliran on May 26.
Captain Christian Celestino, police chief of Kawayan, said Sr. Maria Gemma Onipa was the target of the lone gunman who barged into the house of the nun around 6 p.m.
“The Scene of the Crime Operatives are still processing (all available evidence) and are examining the firearm used by the suspect,” Celestino said in a phone interview.
Onipa, 75, was watching television with her niece inside her home when the assailant suddenly entered and shot her.
The nun was hit on her back and was rushed to a hospital in Tacloban City for treatment.
Celestino said Onipa was already in stable condition and continued to recuperate.
The police chief said they had yet to establish the identity and motive of the gunman who fled after the incident.
Celestino said Onipa is a missionary of the Lady of Peace congregation and is a native of Kawayan town, Biliran.
Policemen had yet to determine more of Onipa’s background.
The family of Onipa has called on authorities to investigate the case further and arrest those who had a hand in the shooting.
“This is shocking. She is a good person. We hope that the police could arrest the suspect and put him behind bars,” said Onipa’s 36-year-old niece who asked not to be named for security purposes.
She said that while they had no idea who would harm the nun, Onipa had reached out to many people in their town with issues regarding land disputes.
“She’s been helping people in our place resolve land dispute problems,” she said in an interview through Messenger.