Cops seize suspect in 2011 murder of Italian missionary

ARRESTED. Police arrest Ricardo Boryo Dorada, the former village chairperson of Dallag in North Cotabato's Arakan town, on Tuesday (Nov. 30, 2021) for his alleged role in the 2011 killing of Italian missionary Fr. Fausto "Pops" Tentorio of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Mission. Four other suspects linked to the killing remain at large. (Photo courtesy of Arakan MPS)

ARAKAN, North Cotabato – Police on Tuesday said they have arrested a former village chairperson linked to the 2011 killing of Italian Catholic priest Fausto "Pops" Tentorio of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) who served as former parish priest here.

Authorities said Ricardo Boryo Dorado alias Nene Dorado, 65, of Barangay Dallag where he once served as its village chief, was seized on Monday by virtue of an arrest warrant for murder issued on April 30, 2019, by Judge Arvin Sadiri Balagot, the presiding judge of the 12th Judicial Region Branch 17 in Kidapawan City.

The suspect voluntarily surrendered as apprehending officers, together with some barangay officials, arrived at his residence.

On the day of his arrest, Dorado was presented before the court which ordered his detention at the police custodial facility here.

Dorado is one of the suspects being linked to the killing of the missionary on October 17, 2011. At least four other suspects linked to the killing remain at large.

Tentorio was gunned down early dawn that day by assailants outside his parish convent.

Immediately thereafter, the provincial government has set up a local investigating task force to investigate the killing.

Tentorio was the second missionary priest in North Cotabato under the same congregation to be murdered.

The first was Fr. Tulio Favali, PIME, who was killed in Tulunan town in 1985 by then members of a local vigilante group.

The PIME missionaries are Catholic priests and brothers who care for and develop communities in some eighteen countries around the world. (PNA)

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