PNP chief Dir. Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde. INQUIRER.net file photo / Jhoanna Ballaran
Solving the murder of Nueva Ecija priest Fr. Richmond Nilo is a priority of the Philippine National Police (PNP), police spokesperson Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. said Tuesday amid public outrage over a series of killings of priests in the country.
Durana said PNP chief Dir. Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde had ordered his men to immediately solve the Nilo murder case even before Malacañang announced that investigation into his death would be “top priority.”
“Even before they issued that directive, priority na ni chief PNP itong kaso (this case is already a priority of the chief PNP),” Durana said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Nilo was killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen near the altar of Barangay Mayamot chapel at Zaragosa town in Nueva Ecija at around 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Nilo, 40, was dressing up at the back of the altar to prepare for the Mass when the assailants shot him through the chapel’s window.
He was the third priest and the second in Nueva Ecija to be killed in the past three months. Fr. Mark Ventura was gunned down after celebrating Mass in Gattaran, Cagayan last April while Fr. Marcelito Paez, was killed a few hours after assisting the release of a political prisoner in Jaen, Nueva Ecija last December.
READ: Albayalde: Killing of priests ‘not cause for public alarm’
While insisting the killing is an isolated case, Durana admitted it would affect the people’s sense of safety and security even as it does not reflect the overall crime situation of the country.
“Itong [This] isolated case will have an impact on the overall sense of safety and security but it does not reflect the overall sense of safety and security of the people. Dapat prayoridad ito [This should be a priority],” he said.
Durana said Albayalde would visit Zaragosa in Nueva Ecija later on Tuesday to personally check and get updates on the ongoing investigation. /jpv