Italy condemns killing of its missionary in S. Philippines

The Italian government on Monday condemned the killing of an Italian missionary in North Cotabato and called for the swift resolution and prosecution of the one responsible for the murder. Italian Ambassador Luca Fornari said he is "very sad and more than disappointed" that a "good man" like Father Fausto Tentorio will become a target of a heinous crime. "It's absolutely a reaction of shock, something that we cannot understand. An Italian priest was shot at daytime while doing his duties. I can not understand why," Fornari said. Tentorio's death has revived security concerns in Mindanao where foreign missionaries and priests performing work in the area have been targeted in the past by various armed groups. Several militant organizations are known to operate in Southern Philippines, including Muslim rebels and Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists like the Abu Sayyaf bandits, who have engaged in kidnap- for-ransom activities. Tentorio was shot dead Monday by a lone gunman inside the Mother of Perpetual Help church in Arakan at 7:30 a.m. Motive of the killing has not yet been established.