Communist rebels vow to avenge priest’s death

MANILA, Philippines—Communist rebels have paid tribute to a slain Italian missionary and vowed to avenge his death last week.

In a rare full-page advertisement in the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper on Wednesday, the Communist Party of the Philippines said the Rev. Fausto Tentorio was a hardworking “beloved servant of the masses” who helped southern indigenous tribes.

A gunman killed Tentorio inside his church compound in North Cotabato province’s Arakan township last week. Police still have no suspects.

Thousands turned out for Tentorio’s funeral Tuesday. He was buried close to the grave of another Italian missionary who was killed by anti-communist militiamen 26 years earlier.