Members of the clergy and civilians yesterday launched an independent fact-finding team to investigate Monday’s killing of an Italian missionary in Northern Cotabato.

The team, led by human rights group Exodus for Justice and Peace, started collecting evidence on Tuesday on the killing of Father Fausto Tentorio of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Mission (PIME). It expects to wrap up its investigation today.

Local police investigators said they have two witnesses whose identities are withheld for security reasons.

The rights group’s spokesman, Ariel Casilao, said the result of the investigation by the independent group will be submitted to authorities and will be used to file charges in court. It will also be given to lawmakers to help in the creation of laws that will prevent such crimes.