Task force formed to probe murder of bishop’s brod

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - – A special investigation task group (SITG) was created to investigate the killing of the brother of Davao Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla in Iloilo on Saturday.

This developed as authorities have yet to identify suspects in the murder of Romeo Capalla, 65, in a public market in Oton town.

Capalla was a former leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Panay.

Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas, provincial police director, will head the SITG while the chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) will act as deputy chief.

Salinas said the SITG would focus on the motive and the identities of the gunmen. He said they would work with the SITG Capilastique, the group that probes the killing of Demetrio Capilastique, alias Hugo, a leader of one of the armed factions of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, who was slain in December.

Salinas refused to explain the need to work with SITG Capitalisque, but sources said the teams are eyeing the possibility the two victims were killed by the same people.

“We are considering every angle for now,” he said noting that they will soon come out with the sketches of the suspects.

“We are also cross matching the slugs recovered from the crime scene with the integrated ballistic information system,” he added.

Meanwhile, the military will conduct its own investigation amid reports that Capalla’s killing was a result of a financial squabble with his former colleagues.

The Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya (SELDA-Panay), which Capalla was a member, and the Karapatan-Panay, insinuated the military could be behind the killing.

Major Ray Tiongson, spokesperson for the Army's 3rd Infantry Division denied the allegation.    – With Jaime Laude