Philippines: Activist priest killed
Event- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Oct 17, 2011
- Event Description
17 October 2011, around 7.30 am Fr. Fausto Tentorio was shot dead at his convent's garage in Arakan as he was about to get in his gray Suzuki. Fr. Fausto Tentorio was leaving to attend a clergy meeting in Kidapawan City. An unidentified gunman entered the compound of the Mother of Perpetual Help Church and shot Father Fausto Tentorio several times with a 9 mm pistol. A female staff of the church declared that, while she was taking out the garbage, she passed by the garage where the Suzuki was parked, and saw Fr. Fausto Tentorio's body on the ground. She immediately called for help from other church staff. Members of the church staff brought Fr. Fausto Tentorio to the Antipas Medical Specialist Hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival. 17 October 2011, around 8.20 am The Philippine National Police arrived at the convent to conduct an initial investigation. It was reported that the gunman shot Father Fausto Tentorio standing about three feet away. Seven empty shells of 9 mm calibre were found on the ground. According to a special investigation task group (SITG) established to track down the gunman, Fr. Fausto Tentorio sustained 10 gunshot wounds in different parts of his body. The fatal shot in his head had entered the rear of his left ear and exited at the back of the skull on the left side. Fr. Fausto Tentorio also had gunshot wounds on the left side of his body, presumably the assailant shot him on his left side as he was about to step into his vehicle.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Death
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 7.21667
Longitude: 124.25
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
Father Fausto Tentorio was an Italian priest at the Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Arakan Valley, North Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines. He was a missionary of the Pontifical Mission for Foreign Missions (PIME). He had been advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples in the region. On 17 October 2011, Fr. Fausto Tentorio was shot dead at his convent's garage in Arakan as he was about to get in his gray Suzuki. Fr. Fausto Tentorio was leaving to attend a clergy meeting in Kidapawan City. An unidentified gunman entered the compound of the Mother of Perpetual Help Church and shot Father Fausto Tentorio several times with a 9 mm pistol.