Military will help police investigate priest’s murder

MANILA, Philippines—The military said it will cooperate with police in the ongoing investigation into the killing of Italian Catholic priest Fausto Tentorio in North Cotabato on Monday.

“We will render full cooperation in the investigations,” Colonel Leopoldo Galon, spokesman of the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command, said Tuesday.

Galon said that the PNP’s Police Regional Office in Sarangani is the main security agency in charge of the investigation but the military will help by aiding in investigations and identifying suspects.

However, Galon noted that authorities still have not identified any suspect. He said that the military has determined some leads in the case but refused to divulge further information, saying that investigations were ongoing.

The military has deployed its Special Forces and the 57th Infantry Batallion in Arakan to assist the joint task force organized by Arakan mayor Gerardo Tuble Sr. to investigate the killing.

Tentorio was gunned down by an unidentified gunman outside the church compound in Arakan town early Monday.