Justice sought for priest murdered in Ilocos in 2007

Catholic groups as well as family and friends of the late Father Florante Rigonan called for justice for the priest who was murdered by unidentified gunmen in 2007. Prayers were said for Rigonan in all parishes in Ilocos Norte province on August 28, the fourth death anniversary of the priest. “We pray and cooperate with the authorities. There should be no culture of impunity and the rule of law must prevail," Diocesan Administrator Msgr. Ian Rabago said, according to an article posted on the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN) website. The UCAN report quoted Ilocos Norte police Superintendent Colonel Dominador Halog Jr. as saying the probe was still open and that police were following up all available clues. Unidentified men shot dead Rigonan on August 28, 2007 as he was leaving the house of a couple who helped raise funds to build a parish church in Puritac village in Pinili town. Investigators initially suspected some relatives of the couple were behind the crime but the case has since gone cold. - VVP, GMA News