Gov’t giving top priority in resolving Nueva Ecija priest’s murder – Roque

June 11, 2018

Malacanang condemned on Monday the murder of a priest in Nueva Ecija.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government is giving priority in the resolution of the killing of Fr. Richmond Nilo, parish priest of Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija on Sunday.

"We condemn the killing of the priest from Nueva Ecija," he said.

Similar to the journalist killings, Roque said the murder of a priest violates the right to life and the right to freedom of religion.

"Rest assured that that the investigation on the killing of a priest will be a top priority," he said.

Roque downplayed the possibility that Nilo's murder and that of the two other priests in a span of six months was connected to President Rodrigo Duterte's criticisms against the Catholic Church.

"I don't think there is any empirical basis for that," he said.

Some prelates have been critical of some of the Duterte administration's policies, particularly on the bloody war against illegal drugs.

Roque said the "culture of impunity" in the Philippines has been in existence even before Dutere became president.

He recalled that former United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings Philip Alston during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had confirmed that there was a breach of the right to life as far as extrajudicial killings were concerned.

He said the Duterte administration is now trying to address the problem, citing the creation of a task force that handles the killings of media practitioners.

As the concurrent presidential adviser of human rights, Roque said his office would give top priority on the resolution of Nilo's death.

He said he would talk with Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde.

Unidentified suspects shot Nilo dead while he was to celebrate a mass in a chapel in Mayamot village in Zaragosa town at around 6 pm on Sunday. Celerina Monte/DMS