Catholic Priest Murdered in Philippines



Father Tentorio
(Kidapawan City, Philippines) Early this morning, Catholic priest Fausto Tentorio, 59, of Italy was gunned down by a lone shooter inside the compound of the Mother of Perpetual Help Parish Church in North Cotabato on Mindanao Island.

A "suspect suddenly appeared and without provocation shot the victim hitting his body", regional police spokesman Resty Damaso said in a report released to the media.

Tentorio was taken to a hospital "but was declared dead by the attending physician", according to the report.

Local police told reporters that the gunman had escaped and the motive for the attack was not yet known.

Some believe that Father Tentorio was killed because of his anti-mining activism. Tentorio had previously received threats on his life because of his staunch anti-mining advocacy.