Catamco admits providing lawyer to murder suspects

DAVAO CITY—North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco on Sunday admitted providing a lawyer to two “Manobo lumad” who were among those identified as behind the October 17, 2011 murder of Italian missionary Fausto Tentorio.

But Catamco, in a text message to the Inquirer, denied she has custody of Ato brothers, Jimmy and Roberto.

Earlier, Italian priest Peter Geremia, who belongs to the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions same as Tentorio, said Catamco had not only provided assistance to some suspects in the murder of Tentorio, but also took custody of one of them and hired him as farm aide.

“The Ato brothers are living with their own family. They are members of the Manobo tribe in Arakan municipality,” Catamco said.

She said “they are not under my custody.”

“There is no legal reason for me to take custody of them. The last time I checked, there was no warrant of arrest issued against them,” Catamco added.

The Ato brothers are among early suspects identified in the Tentorio murder case, along with militiaman Jan Corbala.

Geremia said the protection that the suspects have been receiving could be one of the reasons the case against them was snail-paced.

Catamco said she decided to provide legal assistance to the Ato brothers after their family and a village official sought her help.

The Ato brothers had earlier professed innocence in the Tentorio murder case. Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao