Pangilinan condemns slay of ex-NIA employee

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Sunday, 12 October, condemned the killing of former National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 10 who was gunned down by unidentified assailants on 10 October.

Niruh Kyle Antatico, 40, a former employee of the NIA, has been known for exposing alleged corruption in government offices. He was killed in Cagayan de Oro.

"Mariin nating kinokondena ang pagkitil sa buhay ni Kyle, na ang tanging 'krimen' ay ang magsalita ng katotohanan at ilantad ang diumano'y katiwalian na may kinalaman sa mga pondong nakalaan para sa ating mga magsasaka (I vehemently condemn the killing of Kyle whose only 'crime' is to speak against the corruption involving funds meant for Filipino farmers)," Pangilinan said in a statement.

Pangilinan also called on authorities to expedite the capture of those who killed Kyle.

"Bawat araw na walang nanagot, lalong nagiging walanghiya ang mga salarin, lalong nawawalan ng tiwala sa pamahalaan ang taumbayan (Every day that no one is held accountable, the perpetrators become bolder, and the people's trust in the government continues to diminish)," the senator said.

"Ninanakawan na ang taumbayan, papatayin pa? Lalo tayong ginagalit ng sinumang may pakana sa pagpatay kay Kyle (The Filipinos are already being robbed, and now you still want to kill them? Whoever is behind the killing of Kyle only angers us more)," he added.

Pangilinan also vowed "to expose and stop the anomalies in the NIA, in the funds allocated for farmers and fisherfolk, and in all government agencies."