PNP vows justice for slain Ecija priest

The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday vowed to hold accountable the people involved in the murder of a retired Catholic priest in Nueva Ecija.

PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario has ordered a full investigation into and immediate resolution of the killing of Fr. Marcelito Paez.

Apolinario said the special investigation task group, headed by Nueva Ecija police director Senior Supt. Eliseo Tanding, is working round the clock on the case.

“The group will work 24/7 to resolve the case by arresting and prosecuting the suspects in the killing of Fr. Paez,” PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos said in a statement.

In a press briefing, Carlos said probers have yet to determine the motive behind Paez’s murder.

“They are conducting a victimology from the time of the attack to establish the motive,” he said.

Paez, 72, was driving his Toyota Innova along the JaenZaragoza Road when motorcycle-riding gunmen blocked his path and opened fire at his vehicle in Barangay Lambakin last Monday.

He died from multiple gunshot wounds in the body while being treated at a hospital in San Leonardo town.

Transparency, justice

The bishop of the Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija called for transparency and justice in the killing of the priest.

In an official statement in Filipino, Bishop Roberto Mallari urged the Catholic laity to pray for Paez.

“We, the clergy in the Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, in union with our beloved bishop, strongly condemn the unjust and violent killing of Fr. Tito Paez,” the statement said.

Earlier that day, Paez helped bail out alleged political prisoner Rommel Tucay who was detained at the jail of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Cabanatuan City.

Tucay is an organizer of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson in Nueva Ecija.

He was arrested in his house in Carranglan in Nueva Ecija last March by soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 56th Infantry Battallion.

Paez retired in 2015 and served the diocese of San Jose for more than 30 years since it was founded in 1984.

Paez had been actively involved in social issues, especially issues related to human rights and the welfare of farmers and the poor.

He was a member of the Social Action Commission where he headed the Justice and Peace Office whose primary mission is to protect the human rights of poor and small farmers.

In-depth probe

Chief Supt. Amador Corpus, regional police director for Central Luzon, has ordered an in-depth probe of Paez’s killers.

In a statement released Tuesday night to media, Corpus said, “I guarantee that your police will leave no stone unturned and will exert all means to get to the bottom of this unfortunate incident. You can be sure of our total commitment to ensure successful resolution of the case through proper and scrupulous investigation.”

“We continue to solicit the support of the general public in order to maintain peace and order and safety and security of our communities,” he said. –