A FORMER mayor of Lamitan City, Basilan and two others were killed while two others, including the suspect, were injured in what appeared as an assassination at the Ateneo De Manila University in Quezon City yesterday afternoon.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) identified the slain ex-mayor as Rosita “Rose” Furigay, who relinquished the Lamitan mayoral post to her husband, Roderick, earlier this month after the latter won in the May elections.
Also killed were Furigay’s executive assistant, Victor Capistrano, and Ateneo security guard Bandiola Jeneven.
The suspect, Dr. Chiao Yumol, a 38-year-old native of Basilan, was shot and injured by security guards and later arrested while fleeing the scene aboard a commandeered vehicle, according to QCPD Director Brig. Gen. Remus Medina.
Furigay’s daughter, Hannait, was also injured in the attack at around 3:30 p.m. before the graduation rites for Ateneo law students.
Ateneo cancelled the graduation ceremony after the shooting.
President Marcos vowed to have law authorities “thoroughly and swiftly” investigate the shooting incident and expressed his shock and sadness on Facebook.
“We mourn with the bereaved, the wounded, and those whose scars from this experience will run deep. We commit our law enforcement agencies to thoroughly and swiftly investigate these killings and bring all involved to justice. Our prayers go to the graduates, their families, the Ateneo community, and to the residents of Quezon City and Basilan,” Marcos said.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, in a Twitter post, said: “My condolences to the Ateneo community and to the family and friends of the deceased in today’s tragedy at the graduation rites. I have no other words.”
Medina said Furigay was about to enter the lobby of a hall where the graduation ceremony was about to take place when she was shot by Yumol.
“He looks like he was a determined assassin,” Medina said, adding Yumol was arrested with two pistols and bullets.
Medina said an Ateneo security guard shot and injured Yumol, who commandeered a vehicle but was later arrested on Aurora Boulevard, also in Quezon City.
“He is in our custody. He is undergoing treatment, he was injured,” Medina said of Yumol.
Investigators are determining how Yumol was able to enter the Ateneo compound armed with guns.
ATTACK DENOUNCED
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte denounced the incident, saying: “This kind of incident has no place in our society and must be condemned to the highest level.”
Belmonte urged the QCPD to “continue investigating this incident and ensure that swift justice be attained by the victims and their families.”
The Department of Interior and Local Government also condemned the incident, saying in a statement: “The DILG sincerely sympathizes with the family of the victims of this unfortunate incident as we assure them that we will strengthen the case against the suspect, file the necessary charges, and ensure that the suspect will languish behind bars.”
Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman also condemned the killing and urged authorities “to prosecute the perpetrator of this dastardly crime to the full extent of the law.”
“Mayor Rose did a lot of good things for Lamitan because of her progressive leadership which was the reason that the city was granted a Seal of God Local Governance since 2016 until 2019,” Hataman said in a statement.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, the guest speaker in the graduation rites, was still in transit when he received word of the shooting, and did not proceed to Ateneo, according to the Supreme Court Public Information Office.
“Chief Justice Gesmundo was supposed to be the guest speaker in the ADMU Law School Graduation ceremony this afternoon. He was still in transit when the shooting happened and was advised to turn back,” SC spokesperson Brian Keith Hosaka. “The Chief Justice is safe.”
Lawyer Mico Clavano of the Office of the Secretary of Justice said DOC Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the shooting incident.
“The NBI has dispatched a team of agents to proceed to Ateneo de Manila University to investigate and extend assistance to the victims and school authorities,” Clavano said.
Medina said Yumol, who had no relatives at the graduation, and Furigay knew each other.
“The two know each other,” Medina said. “The doctor has a motive (to kill Furigay), that is what we can confirm…He has a personal motive why he did it…He has a personal grudge against the victim.
“This incident can be considered an isolated case. Investigation showed the motive is personal grudge. We assure the public of a thorough investigation. It’s good that the assassin was already arrested,” said Medina, adding: “It’s personal because they are trading (criminal) cases.”
In September 2019, Yumol surrendered to Maguindanao policemen after a court issued a warrant for his arrest for 26 counts of violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
The cases were filed after Yumol exposed “the level of corruption and drug industry” involving Furigay and her husband. He claimed the couple used their funds and machinery to have him arrested.
In December 2020, Yumol survived an ambush staged by two motorcycle-riding suspects in Zamboanga City. — With Jocelyn Montemayor, Ashzel Hachero and Wendell Vigilia
