A TASK force formed to probe the murder of a young priest in Cagayan has ruled out an initial assessment that the New People’s Army could be behind the murder.
A police report released Wednesday said it was possible that hired killers were behind Mark Ventura’s death.
Ventura, 37, was gunned down by a helmeted gunman who had casually walked behind him while he was talking to choir members in a gymnasium in Tuguegarao City. He was shot a few minutes after celebrating Mass on April 29.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, said the bells in the churches of Manila will continue tolling at night to express condemnation on Ventura’s killing.
He said the bells will toll at 8 p.m. each night in remembrance of all who were killed in the country.
“As we continue celebrating the victory of God over sin and death, we also continue witnessing cases of violent killing in the country, done for varying motives,” Tagle said.
“I am asking you to continue the practice and to invite our communities to pause, remember and pray.”
The police report said the manner and post- execution response characterized by NPA hits were not present.
Region 2 Police Chief Mario Espino said the victim might have been embroiled in a “serious personal grudge” that could be resolved with the digital forensic processing of his two cellphones.
Police said Ventura’s anti-mining advocacies, which could also be a motive for his killing, had also been eliminated since the black-sand mining in Cagayan was stopped four years ago and the people involved no longer had reason to pursue him.