PNP probes land, graft, NPA issues in Mt Prov anti-graft exec’s slay

Salvador Liked 

By Gina Dizon        

    

BAUKO, Mountain Province – Cause-oriented and church groups condemned the killing of Salvador Liked, anti-corruption advocate here even as land, corruption issues were investigated by the police special investigation task group (SITG) formed to probe the murder.

Liked, 44, barangay kagawad, church leader and resident of sitio Gutang, Balintaugan of this municipality was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen late evening of Sept. 2.

Bauko police chief Lt. Nestor Malinias, a member of the SITG said Liked’s body found in front of his residence bore gunshot wounds in his face, nape, back, and in between his chest and abdomen.

Chairman of SITG provincial police information officer Maj. Roy Awisan said suspects are difficult to identify as they wore bonnets.

Awisan added it was dark and difficult to identify Liked’s assailants when it happened around 8:55 p.m. “Unless somebody who knows about the killing comes out to identify the killers or surrenders.”   

Provincial police director Col. Homer Penecillia said in an interview the PNP shall use scientific ways including studying ballistics to solve the crime.

Meanwhile, other possible motives surfaced on the killing of the victim.     

Liked was reportedly involved over a land issue.

In 2018, complaints reached the Leonardo Pacsi command of the New People’s Army (NPA) who warned him to “stop his land grabbing schemes” and not to victimize ‘kakailyan’ on his land dealings covering parcels of land in the borders of Bauko and Sagada at Barangay Balintaugan and instead “pursue graft and corruption cases he has filed to convict abusive officials in government.”

A letter of confirmation of said letter from the NPA- Leonardo Pacsi Command as to the validity of the 2018 letter reached this writer.

There was no statement however owning accountability of said crime from said rebel group.

Earlier in 2013, complaints from persons representing clans from Ankileng, Balugan and Balintaugan reached Assessors Offices in Bontoc, Bauko and Sagada in 2013 complaining of Liked allegedly having tax declared their ancestral lands covering a total of 17 hectares. Some were originally declared by owners and some were not.

Of the 17 hectares, five hectares were donated to the Dept. of Education  and two hectares sold to two individuals in 2018.

Liked reportedly had recent land dealings before he died. 

Another motive of Liked’s slay police are eying is his anti-corruption advocacy.

Liked had filed a number of graft cases against government officials and employees of Mountain Province and other regional government offices such as the Dept. of Public Works and Highways before the office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit and Office of the Sandigan Bayan.

Liked was secretary general of Citizens Crime Watch against Corruption- Mountain Province Chapter. 

One of the latest cases he filed was a petition for special investigation to the Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG) questioning the ‘legality and morality’ of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s appropriation ordinance 2020-04 of the Province’s P35.4 million Bayanihan Grant.

Liked questioned items in various hospital equipment worth P9.39 million and where training, laundry and janitorial expenses were used.

The P35.4 million Bayanihan Grant was received by the provincial government from the national government to address Covid 19 in furtherance to Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.  

Said petition was sent also to President Rodrigo Duterte, DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano, Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) Francisco Duque, Secretary of Budget and Management Wendell Avisado, COA chairperson Michael Aguinaldo, Ombudsman Samuel Martires and 28 senators. 

The most recent case he filed before he died was a petition for special audit and investigation on alleged anomalous P1 million plus reimbursements including reimbursements on overtime pays and purchase of vehicles since 2015 of the provincial government.

The petition also questioned the earlier P16.5 million Land Bank loan of the provincial government to purchase an elevator, painting and electric generator for use by the commercial center in the capital town.

The elevator panel was closed till now and not being used.

Meantime, separate statements were forwarded by different groups calling for the rule of law and stop to killings and violence in Mountain Province.

A civic group, Tengaw Montanyosa in their statement condemned the ruthless killing of Liked saying it was a blatant show of impunity on the rule of law and the Ten Commandments -- God, thou shalt not kill.

The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP) strongly condemned the killing of Liked saying “no human being deserves to be killed for any reason whatsoever. And no human being has the right to take the life of any human for any reason whatsoever.”

The EDNP commended the work of Liked having launched a fund raising campaign to build St. Martin Church at Gutang, Balintaugan.

Liked is an active church leader of Balintaugan -based St Martin Church of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP) actively helping in the construction of the ongoing church building. 

Bauko Mayor Abraham Akilit of Bauko condemned the killing of Liked and stated “our office remembers Honorable Liked for his strong personality and anti- corruption activities in government.”
The Provincial local government unit in their statement also condemned the gruesome murder of Liked stating that "murderers have no place to hide in Mountain Province." 

Said groups called for the speedy resolution of the case and for anyone who has knowledge or information of the incident to cooperate with proper authorities in the resolution of said crime.