Saturday, October 29, 2011

Philippines: "Paramilitary" behind Father Fausto Tintorio’s murder

According to Vatican news agency Fides, "The army and paramilitary groups whom he publicly condemned" may have played a role in the murder of Father Fausto Tintorio, the Italian missionary killed in the Philippines on 17 October.

Fides bases its assumptions on a series of pieces of local evidence. In particular, the new Civil Society Forum "Justice for father Pops" that was created in Davao today to demand justice on the missionary’s death.

The forum brings together dozens of civic and religious organizations such as "Exodus for Justice and Peace”, the ”Rural Missionaries of the Philippines" (of which Fr. Fausto was a member) and other organizations welcoming Catholics and Protestants, human rights groups, indigenous communities and students of Mindanao.

Due to its growth, the Forum has an extensive presence in Mindanao provinces and villages. 

Thus it has played a special investigation mission in Arakan, where Fr. Tentorio was killed: Fides said the mission provides further evidences to the investigators, especially on the possible implications of Philippine armed forces and the island’s paramilitary groups elements.