Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid has condemned the killing of a school official in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and urged authorities to leave no stone unturned in its investigation.

“Nararapat lang na mabigyan ng hustisya ang biktima. Ang ganitong uri ng pagpatay sa ating guro ay walang puwang sa isang sibilisadong lipunan (It’s only right to give justice to the victim. This kind of crime perpetuated against our teachers has no place in a civilized society),” Lapid said in a statement.

Lapid is referring to the shooting incident that claimed the life of Sonatria Dandan Gaspar in Jolo, Sulu last Friday, February 7 in the afternoon. He also expressed his condolences to the family of the said school teacher.

Based on initial reports from the Jolo Municipal Police Station, an armed suspect entered the compound where the victim lives and then shot her to death.

Gaspar is an Assistant Schools Division Superintendent (ASDS) of the Ministry of Basic Higher Technical Education.

Lapid said the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should look into the case and prosecute the perpetrators of the crime.

“Kung nais nating umunlad ang BARMM ay dapat po nating mapigilan ang ganitong karahasan lalo na sa mga lingkod bayan nating humuhubog sa ating kabataan (If we want BARMM to prosper, then we need to stop these kind of violence especially to public officials who help in educating our youth),” Lapid said.