Troops start hunt for Irish priest's killers

Security forces were sent yesterday to central Mindanao to track down several gunmen who killed an Irish priest in what authorities say was a failed attempt to abduct the foreigner in southern Lanao del Sur's province's Malabang town.

Authorities, however, gave conflicting information regarding the suspects in the Tuesday afternoon slaying of Irish Catholic priest, Rufus Halley.

Initial police investigation identified a certain Akto Daing as the one who shot Halley after the foreign missionary resisted attempts by Daing's group to abduct him.

Halley, who was assigned at the Our Lady of Peace parish in Malabang, sustained a gunshot wound in the head. A police report described Daing as a son of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Commander Sumagaya.

But Armed Forces spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, has so far refused to link the involvement of the MILF to the crime, saying further investigation should be conducted first. "We cannot link to the MILF yet, and we'll just wait for the police investigation," Brig. Gen. Adan said in a teleconference with defence reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.

Ireland was shocked by the killing of the popular missionary priest, but his religious order said yesterday it had no plans to withdraw other missionaries.

Irish media were filled with stories about Halley. "Murdered Irish priest knew his life was in danger," The Irish Times said in a front-page headline, while the Irish Independent had the headline "Massive hunt for killers of heroic priest."

Halley was shot around 5 pm while returning on his motorcycle from an inter-religious dialogue in nearby Balabagan town. At least six gunmen flagged down Halley, but the priest resisted and was shot dead at point blank range, Maj. Johnny Macanas, of the 4th Infantry Division, said.