A Filipino police officer inspects a motorcycle rider in Manila April 14. Fr. Richmond Villaflor Nilo was shot and killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen June 10. (CNS/Mark R. Cristino, EPA)
by Catholic News Service
Philippine authorities announced June 15 that they had arrested their "prime suspect" in the killing of Fr. Richmond Villaflor Nilo, reported ucanews.com.
The suspect, identified as Adell Roll Milan, was arrested in San Isidro June 14, the same day Nilo was buried.
A witness reportedly identified Milan, an alleged former drug user and hitman, as having shot the priest June 10. Authorities said police have also identified the vehicles used by the gunman and his accomplices, ucanews.com reported.
Nilo was shot and killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen at a village chapel in Zaragoza while he was about to celebrate Mass. He was the third priest and the second in Nueva Ecija province killed in six months.
Bishop Sofronio Bancud of Cabanatuan celebrated Nilo's funeral at St. Nicolas of Tolentine Cathedral in Cabanatuan. Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, papal nuncio to the Philippines, and several priests and bishops concelebrated.
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In his homily, Bancud reminded Catholics to follow the example of the slain priest and help those in need.
He urged members of the clergy to "draw strength from Jesus Christ" especially "if we are being targeted."
Bancud said the funeral was "a moment for all our Catholic faithful to storm the heavens with prayers for his soul, for the swift and just resolution of the case."
"We grieve because we lost a brother, shepherd, father, and friend to a murderer's bullet," he added.
