Priest slay suspect arrested

MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested on Thursday one of the suspects in the murder of Catholic priest Richmond Nilo in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija.

Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, Central Luzon police director, said Adell Roll Milan was identified by an altar boy as the one who shot Nilo while the priest was preparing for mass inside a chapel in Zaragoza last Sunday.

Milan, allegedly a drug personality and gun for hire, was arrested at around 6:30 p.m. in Barangay Malapit, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.

“The suspect is also engaged in gun-for-hire activities in the province,” Corpus said at a news briefing aired over radio station dzBB.

Milan was among the drug surrenderees in Nueva Ecija, Corpus added.

“This development will bring us closer to the real motive behind Fr. Nilo’s death as we are still conducting follow-up operations for the possible arrest of other personalities involved,” he said.

Corpus said they are also tracking down the owner of a Nissan car seen roaming in the area moments before the priest was killed.

Hundreds of supporters mostly clad in black shirts joined the funeral procession for Nilo from the College of Immaculate Conception to the Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral crypt in Cabanatuan City.

“His death is a great loss for all of us Catholic faithful in the Diocese of Cabanatuan. We grieve because we lost a brother, shepherd, father and friend to a murderer’s bullet,” said Cabanatuan City Bishop Sofronio Bancud during his homily at the mass for Nilo.

Bancud said Nilo’s death would remind the lay faithful of his advocacy to defend the Catholic Church, which stands for truth, peace and justice.

In Isabela, church bells rang at noon for three minutes in the Diocese of Ilagan City to show the people’s grief over the death of the priest.

Diocese chancellor and vicar Greg Uanan condemned Nilo’s murder, stating that the clergy will continue to advocate its stance against violence and Church persecution. 

Chief Insp. Eden dela Cruz, police chief of San Isidro, said Milan did not resist arrest in his house, which is situated in the town proper.

Milan was among five men who carried out the murder of Nilo last June 10.

As this developed, police served search warrants to 11 other individuals for firearms connected to Nilo’s case in Barangay Luyus, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.

Corpus said the suspects riding a motorcycle and a getaway car were spotted through closed circuit television cameras installed near the crime scene.

Members of the police special investigation task group also have sketches of the faces of three of the suspects.

Police investigators are also verifying the name of the last registered owner of the getaway vehicle.

Corpus said it is important that the other suspects are caught so they could establish the motive behind the priest’s killing.

“Maybe we can come up with the real motive,” he said.

Corpus earlier said they are looking at three possible motives behind Nilo’s murder, one of which is his involvement in a land dispute.

The two other motives are his assistance to rape victims and the clergyman’s criticism of other religious sects. – With Raymund Catindig