Cops still pursuing Indon priest’s murderer

La Trinidad, Benguet – Policemen are still pursuing the gunmen of Indonesian Roman Catholic priest Franciskus Madhu.

Murder charges has been filed against the prime suspect Wailan.

Kalinga police director Senior Superintendent Severino Cruz said as his men raided the lair of the gunmen in sitio Dugnac, Barangay Antonio Canao in Lubuagan town last week but Wailan and his three cohorts eluded arrest

Wailan, described by police as medium-built, with fair complexion, short hair and about five feet and four inches tall, and two others identified as Joel Awingan and Acmor Bongawen, gunned down Madhu on Palm Sunday in Mabungtot, Lubuagan town with a M-16 rifle.

Six spent shells were found at the crime scene.

The Indonesian Embassy had demanded the early resolution of the priest’s killing even as it hailed the authorities who are tracking down the gunmen.

Cordillera police spokesman Joseph Adnol, however, said that even with the successive high-profile killings, they are not recommending Kalinga to be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

"It is not as chaotic as Abra," the police official said.

Earlier, police officials had theorized that Madhu and Diasen’s successive killings were not politically motivated.

Madhu was supposedly a victim of "thrill killing" because Wailan and his cohorts were drunk when they had a verbal altercation with the priest before the shooting.

Diasen, Cordillera police also said, was killed to avenge the killing of RTC Judge Milnar Lammawin two years ago in Tabuk town by the latter’s tribe. – Artemio Dumlao