A former employee of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-Region 10 was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday, October 10.
The victim, identified as Niruh Kyle Antatico, 40, a Juris Doctor graduate, was known for exposing alleged irregularities within the very agency he once served. He previously worked as Legal Researcher III at NIA-Northern Mindanao.
Based on initial police reports, the attack took place around 7:00 p.m. in Zone 1, Crossing Patag, while Antatico was driving his Nissan sedan. Witnesses said the back rider pulled out a firearm and fired several shots, hitting the victim. His car then swerved out of control and crashed into the rear of a truck.
Rescuers from Oro Rescue rushed Antatico to J.R. Borja General Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival. Authorities are now conducting follow-up investigations and a manhunt operation for the suspects.
Cagayan de Oro Representative Lordan Suan strongly condemned the killing of Antatico, whom he described as a “crusader for good governance and accountability.”
In a Facebook post, Suan said:
“I am deeply shocked and profoundly saddened by the brutal killing of my fraternal brother, Niruh Kyle Antatico — a committed crusader for good public service, truth, and justice. Niruh devoted his life to exposing wrongdoing and holding power to account; his courage and bravery inspired many and strengthened our community’s faith in principled public action.”
“That he was gunned down by men riding in tandem in Barangay Patag is an appalling attack not only on one man but on the very ideals he stood for. As the congressman of the district where this cowardly act occurred, I condemn in the strongest possible terms this malicious and senseless violence, carried out to intimidate truth-tellers and men of principle.”
“I call on law enforcement to conduct a swift, transparent, and thorough investigation so that justice may be delivered at the soonest possible time. Those who plotted and carried out this brutal killing must be found, prosecuted, and made to answer fully for their crimes.”
“To Niruh’s family: please accept my deepest condolences. I share your grief and your outrage, and I stand with you in seeking the truth and ensuring that his sacrifice does not go unanswered. May Niruh’s memory continue to inspire our fight for truth, accountability, and the protection of those who speak out for the common good.”
Another fraternal brother, Atty. Bagani Llesis, also expressed his outrage over the killing. In his statement, he said Antatico was the only one brave enough to expose alleged “ghost projects” within the NIA.
“The country must know, one man has offered his life to expose ghost projects, this time, not in the DPWH, but in the National Irrigation Administration (NIA),” he wrote.
Llesis shared that Antatico had been receiving death threats for speaking out against corruption but never wavered in his convictions.
“Yesterday, a fraternal brother NIRUH KYLE D. ANTATICO, J.D. fell to an assassin’s bullet. His eyes and ears were not ‘buta bungol.’ He received threats when he exposed anomalies in his workplace, yet he did not remain silent.”
“He died young, just like our heroes Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio. Like them, he stood up for what he saw as right.”
“If there is still hope in our country, we must condemn the killing and find justice. I pray that our authorities, will also stand for what is right and let the long arm of the law catch all the culprits. No aim but justice! Rest in peace brod,” he added.
Authorities have yet to establish the motive behind the killing, but both local officials and colleagues are urging law enforcement to act swiftly in solving the case — a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by those who dare to speak truth to power.