THE police in Cagayan Valley have formed a task force to investigate the killing of priest Mark Ventura on April 29, an official said Monday.
Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino said he had ordered the formation of the Special Investigation Task Group-Ventura to speed up the resolution of the case.
Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao condemned Ventura’s killing.
“Anakpawis extends its condolences to the family, friends, parishioners and the people of Gattaran, Cagayan Valley, for whom Fr. Mark Ventura had served for the past seven years,” Casilao said.
The bishops called for justice for Ventura.
“We condemn this evil act,” the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said in a statement.
“We make our appeal to the authorities to act swiftly in going after the perpetrators of this crime and to bring them to justice.”
Ventura, 37, was shot dead on Sunday just as he was blessing children after celebrating mass in Piña Weste village in Gattaran, Cagayan.
The priest sustained fatal wounds in his head and chest and was declared dead on the spot by the responding police and rescue units.
The assailants fled in a motorcycle, Espino said.
“I have ordered my men to conduct a thorough investigation and to go after the suspects,” he said.
Dioceses, religious organizations, priests, friends and supporters of Ventura in Cagayan took to social media to call for justice.
In a Facebook post, Fredel Agatep, a priest in the Minor Basilica of Piat, initiated a movement by posting a black photo with the words “I am Fr Mark Ventura.”
The post came with a statement urging people to make the photo their profile picture to take a “firm stand” against killers and terrorists.
“Any one of us can become a victim of killers and terrorists. Let us stand firm and denounce any form of destruction of human life,” the statement read.
Local officials also condemned Ventura’s killing.
“I denounce the senseless killing of Fr Mark Ventura. I hope the perpetrators will be brought to justice at the soonest possible time,” said Cagayan Rep. Randy Ting.
Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba said he had already ordered Provincial Police Chief Warren Tolito to probe the killing. Maricel V. Cruz