Suspects in slay of Irish priest in ’01 still at large

COTABATO CITY — It’s been more than a year now since the brutal murder of Irish missionary Rufus Halley in Malabang, Lanao del Sur and still five of his six suspected killers remain scot-free.

Worse, according to sources from the Muslim religious community, Udtog Daing, the alleged mastermind in the killing of Halley, also known in Lanao del Sur as Fr. Popong, is often seen freely roaming in Marawi City.

Halley, who belonged to the Columban congregation, was gunned down Aug. 28 last year in Malabang by Daing and his followers when he fought them back as they tried to snatch him while on his way to nearby Balabagan town on board his motorcycle.

Halley was popular in Lanao del Sur, a component province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, for his active involvement in inter-faith dialogues among the Muslim and Christian communities in the province.

The alleged driver of the getaway vehicle Daing and his cohorts were arrested by pursuing lawmen a day after Halley’s death, but was freed soon after due to lack of evidence linking him to the crime.

Halley had served the Muslim and Christian residents of Lanao del Sur for more than two decades.

The ARMM police had earlier accused the Moro Islamic Liberation Front of providing sanctuary to the suspects in one of its lairs in the province. The MILF denied this, saying its forces have even been ordered to help the police arrest Halley’s killers.

"Fr. Popong was like a father to the poor Maranaws in his parish. He helped the sick undergo medication and provided scholarship to the children of indigent families," said Actab Mamintal, a laborer at the public market in Malabang.

Representatives of various Muslim and Christian religious groups and non-government organization commemorated last month the first death anniversary of Halley in a somber mood, dampened by the failure of the ARMM police to put his killers behind bars. — John Unson