MP LGU officials condemn Liked assassination

September 14, 2020 Community Billboard

Local government officials and other organizations condemned the killing of an anti-corruption advocate in Mountain Province. “In behalf of my family and the Officialdom of Bauko, we strongly condemn in the strongest possible terms the killing of Honorable Salvador Liked, Barangay Kagawad of Balintaugan, Bauko,” Bauko Mayor Abraham Akilit said in a statement.
“This is the first in the history of Bauko for an official to be slayed in his own community and worse in his own abode, a place where danger and unrest are least expected,” said Akilit as he offered condolences to the bereaved family and to the community folks of Barangay Balintaugan whom Liked served with passion and dedication.
Liked, 44, was shot dead by still unknown gunmen on the night of September 2 at his home in Balintaugan, Bauko. According to initial investigation, he was shot thrice based on the cal. 45 bullet shells police recovered at the crime scene. He sustained two gunshot wounds which resulted to his death.
Liked was the secretary general of Citizens Crime Watch against Corruption – Mountain Province chapter. The group has filed dozens of alleged corruption cases against government officials and employees of Mountain Province before the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit and the Sandiganbayan.
He was feared by those many who have something to hide. His name will ring as a reminder for all that public service is public trust, Akilit said. The mayor called on his constituents especially those who have knowledge of the killing to cooperate with the proper authorities for the immediate resolution of this heinous crime. “The longer that no one speaks, the harder it gets for the family to find peace and for the community folks to continually live in fear,” he added.
Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr. expressed solidarity with the rest of the province in seeking justice for Liked’s gruesome killing. “We condemn the unlawful actions of the said gunmen as we fear that this could be a precedence to other untoward future incidences. We, in Mountain Province abhor and do not condone any kind of killing,” Lacwasan said in a statement.
He committed the LGU’s support to hasten investigation and to bring to justice for Liked. Bishop Brent HW Alawas of the Episcopal Diocese of the Northern Philippines also called on the government for a “prompt and full-dress investigation” into the murder of the anti-graft activist.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office – Cordillera Director BGen. R’win Pagkalinawan said the police is conducting thorough investigation surrounding the death of the local official. The Mountain Province Police Office has created a special investigation task group to handle the shooting.
PIA