TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- The Philippine National Police (PNP)- Cagayan Valley regional unit has formed a task force for the investigation of the brutal killing of Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura on Sunday, April 29.
In a press release, the Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) said Chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino ordered the formation of Special Investigation Task Group-Ventura to speed up the resolution of the case.
Ventura was shot dead on Sunday just as he was blessing children, after he celebrated a Holy Mass in Barangay Piña Weste in Gattaran, Cagayan.
Ventura sustained fatal gun injuries in his head and chest. He was proclaimed dead on the spot by responding police and rescue units.
The riding-in-tandem assailants, both wore helments, have yet to be identified.
Right after the killing, PRO2 said Espino had ordered for an “intensified hot-pursuit” against the suspects, instructing all police chiefs around Gattaran town to assemble checkpoints on all possible escape routes of the gunmen.
“I have ordered my men to conduct thorough investigation for the possible identification and apprehension of suspects the soonest possible time,” Espino said. Northernforum.net
