Opposition Senator Francis Panglinan on Monday condemned the killing of Fr. Richmond Nilo of the Diocese of Cabanatuan and asked the government to bring the perpetrators to justice immediately.
“Kinokondena natin ang mga pag-atakeng ito sa ating mga taong simbahan. Nananawagan tayo sa mga awtoridad na hulihin ang mga maysala, lalung-lalo na ang mga mastermind,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
Nilo was shot dead Sunday by assailants as he was preparing two celebrate the Mass in a chapel in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija.
Pangilinan noted that Nilo was the third priest killed in the last six months. In December, Fr. Marcelito Paez was gunned down in Jaen, Nueva Ecija while Fr. Mark Ventura was killed in April in Cagayan.
“Nasaan ang ipinangakong peace and order? Nasaan ang kaayusan? Nasaan ang katarungan?” the senator asked.
President Rodrigo Duterte ran on the platform of peace and order, vowing to eradicate crime in three to six months.
Pangilinan asked why there seemed to be a pattern in the killings. “Bakit parang may pattern ng pagpatay sa mga tumutulong sa mga mahihirap, na siyang unang naging target ng mga patayan? Bakit parang lumalala ang problema ng panlipunang kapayapaan?”
Meanwhile, Malacañang also condemned the killing of Nilo and assured the public that justice will be served and that the investigation the case will be a top priority.
“Kinokondena po natin iyang pagpatay dito sa pari na taga Nueva Ecija,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing. /vvp