MANILA (UCAN): Father Rene Regalado was shot dead near a Carmelite monastery in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon province, in Mindanao, the Philippines. It is believed he was shot while returning to his lodgings at the nearby St. John XXIII College Seminary.
The body of the 42-year-old priest was found near his car on January 24. He had been shot in the head
The Diocese of Malaybalay said it had received reports that churchgoers had heard gunshots around 7.30pm, adding it took at least an hour for police to arrive at the scene.
Police said the priest had received death threats following a recent rape allegation made against him in a nearby province.
“We are looking at revenge as a motive. Right now, we are not yet sure if the alleged rape is connected to his death,” said Bukidnon police spokesperson, Colonel Roel Lami-Ing.
Police also said there were indications that the priest had been assaulted before he was shot.
“We express our deepest sympathy to his immediate family and supplicate to the Lord of Life that justice will be served against the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” the diocese said in statement adding, “We request everyone offers prayers for … immediate results in the investigation and that justice will be served to whom it is due.”
Fellow priests said Father Regalado, who had been a priest since 2007, left the seminary earlier that afternoon but did not say where he was going.
