An alleged gunman in the killing of Italian missionary Father Fausto Tentorio in October has been arrested, the justice department announced today. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said operatives from the police and the National Bureau of Investigation Thursday arrested Jimmy Ato in a remote village in Arakan in North Cotabato province. She said witnesses identified Ato, who is also wanted for a separate case of arson and homicide, as the one who shot Fr Tentorio on October 17 inside the church compound where he was serving as parish priest. Ato’s brother Robert, who allegedly drove the getaway motorcycle, was also arrested. De Lima said Robert shot at the arresting team but nobody was hurt. The justice chief said she has asked the army to provide security to local government assets in North Cotabato, who now fear retaliation from Ato’s family. Fr Tentorio, an anti-mining advocate, was the third Italian Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) priest shot in Mindanao, and the second in the Diocese of Kidapawan.