Catholics in the northern city of Laoag yesterday gathered for a prayer service to remember and renew calls for justice for Florante Rigonan, a priest killed by unidentified gunmen four years ago.

Father Engelbert Elarmo led the prayers next to Fr Rigonan’s grave before releasing white balloons in the air.

Diocesan administrator, Monsignor Ian Rabago, said all parishes in Ilocos Norte province will include prayers for Fr Rigonan during Mass this Sunday.

“We pray and cooperate with the authorities. There should be no culture of impunity and the rule of law must prevail,” Fr. Rabago said.

Though the Rigonan case is moving slowly, he said the Catholic Church still hopes justice will be served soon.

Fr Rigonan was shot dead on August 28, 2007 as he was leaving the house of a couple of former overseas workers, who had raised millions of pesos to build a parish church in the village of Puritac, in Pinili town.

Investigators initially suspected several relatives of the couple after there were claims they resented their relatives’ relationship with the priest, but the case has since gone cold.

Ilocos Norte police Colonel Dominador Halog said yesterday the murder inquiry was still open and that police were following up all available clues.