NILO Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has ordered the creation of a special investigation task group (SITG) to resolve the killing of another Catholic priest in Nueva Ecija on Sunday.

At a press briefing in Camp Crame yesterday, Albayalde said that Police Regional Office-3 (PRO-3) Director Chief Supt. Amado Corpus is personally overseeing the investigation of the killing of Fr. Richmond Nilo.

“I directed him (Corpus) to establish an SITG to look into the killing of Father Nilo…as of last night up to this morning, they still don’t know the motive and suspects or persons of interest,” Albayalde said.

Nilo was about to celebrate the 6 p.m. Mass at a chapel in Barangay Mayamot, Zaragosa town when he was shot dead by still unidentified suspects.

For his part, Corpus vowed that police will conduct an in-depth probe of the case.

He said he already designated the deputy director of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office as head of the SITG “Nilo.”

“Your police are conducting in-depth probe on this incident ensuring that no stone will be left unturned to immediately identify and arrest the perpetrators,” Corpus said.

“I have ordered my men to conduct a thorough investigation for the possible identification and apprehension of suspects the soonest possible time,” he added.

Corpus said that the SITG “Nilo” has already started gathering pieces of evidence to establish the motive of the killing.

He urged the public to coordinate with the SITG for any information that would help the ongoing investigation.

Only last week, Fr. Rey Urmeneta of the St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Calamba City survived a gun attack in the city.

Last April, Fr. Mark Ventura, of San Isidro Labrador Parish in Gattaran, Cagayan, was also gunned down after celebrating Mass.

Albayalde stressed that the 190,000-strong PNP is doing its best to address the killings — which he said are sometimes motivated by personal reasons.

“I have given directive to all chiefs of police, on our territorial units down the line to coordinate with different priests in their areas,” Albayalde said.

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