A FORMER National Irrigation Administration (NIA) employee who exposed alleged corruption in the agency was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday night, October 10, police said.
The victim was identified as Niruh Kyle Antatico, 40, a Juris Doctor graduate and former legal researcher at NIA-Region 10.
He was ambushed in Zone 1, Crossing Patag, while driving his car. Rescuers brought him to J.R. Borja General Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Antatico had gained attention for his social media posts alleging irregularities in several NIA projects, including a P75-million irrigation project in Northern Mindanao that he claimed was never used by farmers despite being reported as completed in 2022. He said parts of the project were “abandoned” and “disconnected,” calling it a possible “ghost project.”
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan condemned the killing, describing Antatico as “a crusader for truth and accountability.”
The NIA-Northern Mindanao office also denounced the attack, vowing to assist in the investigation and review the projects Antatico questioned.
NIA Administrator Eddie Guillen expressed condolences and assured that the agency remains committed to transparency and good governance as authorities continue their probe.
