University head shot dead in Cagayan De Oro

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — The president of state-owned University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTSP) was gunned down in front of his house here Saturday morning, shocking the school’s community.

According to police, USTP president Ricardo Rotoras was shot by still-unidentified assailants outside his home in Golden Glow North subdivision in Barangay Carmen at around 1 a.m. Saturday.

Police said Rotoras bore multiple gunshot wounds in his body and was rushed to nearby JR Borja General Hospital by his driver, but he died on the way.

A witness told investigators he saw several people loitering near the Golden Glow North perimeter fence days before the incident.

The same witness also saw two men walking out of the subdivision after the shooting of Rotoras.

A black pick-up truck came to fetch the suspected gunmen, the witness added.

Recovered from the crime scene were empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol.

In an online interview, Nef Luczon, a USTP faculty member of the Department of Technology Communication Management, said Rotoras’ death was a great loss.

Rotoras, who served as head of the USTP since 2006, was also the president of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) for four consecutive terms. 

Elected unopposed for the fourth time, Rotoras was supposed to end his two-year term as PASUC head in 2019.

“His unopposed re-election bespeaks of his excellent leadership, hard work, selfless dedication and commitment towards leveling up the standards of education in the country,” read a portion of the article posted on the USTP’s website, referring to his reelection as PASUC president.

It was during his stint as USTP president that the university saw two major transformations, first from being declared as Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) to its current status as the center of science and technology in Southern Philippines.

As of Saturday morning, police said they are still conducting investigation and follow-up operation.

Authorities have yet to establish the motive for the killing.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) commissioner J. Prospero de Vera condemned the killing of Rotoras.

“Dr. Rotoras was a staunch, reliable and longtime ally of the commission in its efforts to push for reforms in Philippine higher education,” said De Vera.

“Through his able leadership, PASUC has served as a critical collaborator of the commission in advocating for greater support to SUCs and in shaping many of the strategic reforms underway today,” he added. - Janvic Mateo