Ex-Basilan Mayor, 2 Others killed in University Shooting

Jude Sagun

Jul 24

*Former Lamitan, Basilan Mayor Rose Furigay (Photo from Facebook)*

MANILA, Philippines – Former mayor of Lamitan City, Basilan, Rose Furigay, was confirmed dead in a shooting inside Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City on Sunday, July 24, among two others.

According to a Quezon City Police District report, the two other victims were identified as Furigay's long-time aide Victor Capistrano and a security guard, Jeneven Bandiola.

Furigay was at the university to see her daughter Hannah Furigay's graduation from the Ateneo Law School. Hannah Furigay was also injured and rushed to the hospital after the incident and currently in stable condition.

QCPD Director Brigadier General Remus Medina told CNN Philippines that police apprehended a suspect along Aurora Boulevard, and now under custody for a custodial investigation.

"Ang gusto kong i-confirm nag-commandeer siya ng sasakyan, nakuha niya doon sa Ateneo, tinakbo niya dito papuntang Aurora Boulevard so doon natin siya nakuha sa Aurora Boulevard."

QCPD Director Brigadier General Remus Medina

(I confirm that the suspect commandeered a vehicle which he got inside Ateneo, and he drove toward Aurora Boulevard, so we caught him on Aurora Boulevard.)

QCPD identified as Chao Tiao Yumul, 38, a doctor and a resident of Lamitan City, Basilan. Medina further stated that the suspect has "personal motives" behind the crime.

"Initially sa pagtatanong natin sa kanya, meron na silang long history ng away sa Lamitan, Basilan. According to them, nagpapalitan na sila ng kaso, itong si doktor naman ay lagi itong nape-pressure sa pamilya ng Furigay, so lumalabas personal ang away nila," Medina said.

In a Facebook post, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described the occurrence as "shocking and tragic."

"We mourn with the bereaved, the wounded, and those whose scars from this experience will run deep."

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"We commit our law enforcement agencies to thoroughly and swiftly investigate these killings and bring all involved to justice," he added.

Meanwhile, Former Vice President Leni Robredo mourns the passing of Furigay, whom she described as a staunch supporter of the Angat Buhay program in Lamitan.

"Lamitan City Government, under her leadership, provided the land in Brgy Buahan where our Yakan Weaving Center now stands. We have been to the beautiful city of Lamitan many times, and we join the people in their grief."

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT LENI ROBREDO

"That this happened in broad daylight, at an occasion which marks the culmination of the many years of hard work of the graduating law students, and which included the killing of Jeneven Bandiala, the Ateneo security guard, make the incident more tragic. It reminds us to keep on pushing back on everything that promotes a culture of impunity."

Moreover, ADMU firmly condemns the shooting incident on its Loyola Heights campus and assures that their campuses are safe and security protocols are now being reviewed and strengthened further.