Killing an anti-corruption advocate in Mt. Province

EDITORIAL

The killing of anti-corruption advocate Salvador Liked in his hometown in Balintaugan, Bauko Mountain Province last Wednesday has struck a raw nerve and is now being seen by observers as a development that is alarming in the once peaceful province.

Liked had filed many cases against officials not only in Mountain Province but other parts of the Cordillera making police investigations on the killing difficult.

At this time, some constituents of the province want the murder solved as soon as possible to identify the killers and the mastermind.

Liked was shot by unidentified gunmen in front of his residence that resulted in his instant death.

According to the police, at around 8:55 p.m., the victim came out from their house to see his house under construction which is about 20 meters away when somebody shot him in the nape and body.

Witnesses saw two individuals rushing from the scene.

Spent bullet shells for Cal.45 pistol were recovered at the scene.

The Bauko police has yet to conduct deeper investigation on the possible motive behind the killing of the kagawad.

Liked was the Secretary General of the Citizens Crime Watch (CCW) Cordillera. His group was responsible for putting some officials in hot seat for alleged corruption and questionable dealings and expenditures especially involving government projects and contracts in Mountain Province.

The anti-corruption activist ran as a vice-mayor of Bauko but landed third in the race. He continued however with his anti-corruption advocacy while serving as a kagawad of Balintaugan.