Ricardo Rotoras, president of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines,was gunned down in front of his house early on Saturday. A Mass for him is being prepared by faculty and students at the school gym on Monday. —NEF LUCZON/CONTRIBUTOR
Five senators on Sunday called on the authorities to find the people behind the killing of a university president in Cagayan de Oro City whom they said was a big loss not only to the province but also to the education sector.
In statements, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Senators Francis Escudero, Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino and JV Ejercito condemned the killing of Ricardo Rotoras, president of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP).
Rotoras also served as president of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges.
Rotoras was shot multiple times in front of his house at Golden Glow North Subdivision in Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro, early on Saturday.
Get the killers
“I am alarmed and outraged by this latest attack on our law-abiding and dedicated public servants. I urge the police to work double time to arrest the killers and unmask the mastermind,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel said Rotoras was a “big loss” to the people of Cagayan de Oro City.
Escudero also said Rotoras was a “big loss to the education sector.” He condemned the killing of Rotoras, saying it was “unacceptable and enraging.”
“While I extend my deepest sympathies to the bereaved family, as well as to the USTP community, I join the academe in mourning for Dr. Rotoras, whose efforts to help improve the country’s higher education system will not be forgotten,” Escudero said.
In a joint statement, Pangilinan and Aquino said they had worked closely with Rotoras for the passage of the Quality Tertiary Education Act.
“His untimely death is a great loss to the country’s push for quality education for every Filipino,” Pangilinan and Aquino said as they urged the authorities “to ensure that those behind the killing will be brought to justice and punished for their deplorable act.”
Also condemning the “senseless” killing was Ejercito who lamented the fact that Rotoras “has been the hardworking president of the association of state universities and colleges.”
Police investigation
Cagayan de Oro police are investigating the killing of Rotoras. The city government has asked the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation to help in the investigation.
A witness said on Saturday that he had seen several people who appeared to be casing the subdivision days before the shooting.
Another witness said he saw two men walk out of the subdivision and board a black pickup truck after the incident.
Investigators recovered casings for .45-caliber bullets from the crime scene.
One of the Rotoras said the family knew someone who might be behind the killing, but did not elaborate.