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AFP eyes Abu link to killing of Catholic priest


The Philippine military is eyeing the possible involvement of the Abu Sayyaf in the killing of a Catholic priest Tuesday night in Tawi-Tawi province. Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Eugene Batara Jr said the "unidentified armed men" who perpetrated the killing of Fr. Rey Roda of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the abduction of Notre Dame teacher Omar Taup are "believed to be ASG members." "There has been previous kidnapping attempts on prominent personalities by the ASG in Tawi-Tawi but was successfully foiled by the military and police operatives," Batara said Wednesday in a statement. Roda and Taup were talking at the convent inside the Notre Dame school in Barangay Tabawan, South Ubian town when the 10 suspects, who were wearing ski masks and carrying long firearms, arrived about 9 p.m. Provincial Police Director Senior Superintendent Wainwright Taup, a second-degree cousin of the abducted teacher, said the target of the suspects was clearly Roda and the motive was most probably for ransom. But since Roda resisted, he was shot and hacked to death, and the suspects took Taup instead as they escaped outside of the islet aboard a speedboat, the police director said. Taup refused, however, to say which group the suspects belong, although he said they spoke the Tausug and Samal vernacular. Batara said a pursuit operation for the suspects is now being launched jointly by the police, the Marines and the Navy in the area. - GMANews.TV

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