Cops claim breakthrough in Ilocos priest’s 2007 killing

Police in Ilocos Norte claimed to have gained a breakthrough in the killing of a priest there three years ago, a Catholic website said late Thursday. The Union of Catholic Asian News said a new ballistics report linked the killing of Fr. Florante Rigonan to at least five other fatal shootings in the province. “We are not letting this go and we will be filing a case against the suspects," said provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Marlou Chan, in an article posted on UCAN’s website. While he did not elaborate, he said investigators have also traced the gun’s serial number. Unidentified gunmen shot Rigonan in Puritac village on Aug. 28, 2007, after he left the house of some former overseas workers who raised millions of pesos to build a local parish church. Investigators at the time had recommended charging two donors’ relatives, after witnesses claimed they resented the generosity and affection shown by their family members toward the priest. Local Catholics, including Laoag Bishop Sergio Utleg, had expressed disappointment over police failures in prosecuting murder cases, many of which involved shootings by motorcycle-riding gunmen. Meanwhile, Chan said he will crack down on “guns for hire" and making every effort to make Ilocos Norte a safe place to live. He also stressed there will still be a need for witnesses to come forward and testify in court. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV