Saturday, October 13, 2007 Iglesia priest killed in Surigao By Bong Garcia
UNIDENTIFIED gunman has shot and killed a priest on Tuesday in the town of San Miguel in Surigao del Sur province, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported.
The PNP identified the slain priest as 52-year-old Datu Basilio Bautista Luna of the Iglesia Filipina Reform Group who is also a lumad leader in San Miguel.
The PNP said Luna was shot and killed by a lone gunman who barged into his home convent around 7 a.m. Tuesday in Barangay Bolhoon. The suspect fled to unknown direction.
Robbery is suspected to be the motive of the incident since the suspect carted away the victim’s valuables like cellular phone, P1,500 cash, and Church documents.
However, the police are also looking into another angle like personal grudge since Luna also serves as a volunteer in the community police force.
Investigation is ongoing to determine the suspect’s identity for his eventual arrest.
