MANILA, Philippines — The deaths of former Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay and two others in a shooting incident at the Ateneo de Manila on Sunday sparked an outpouring of condolences from fellow local chief executives.
League of Provinces of the Philippines president and Marinduque governor Presbitero J. Velasco Jr. expressed condolences to Furigay’s family on behalf of the local government officials of 81-member provinces of the league.
“[W]e are deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident that happened on what should have been one of the happiest days for the Furigay family,” Velasco said in a statement on Sunday.
Velasco also said Furigay has “selflessly served her constituencies” during her term as mayor of Lamitan.
“It is our sincere prayer that this would not forever mar the memories they have of what should have been a day of celebration for the graduates and their families,” Velasco said.
The Department of Interior and Local Government also said it “sincerely sympathizes” with the family of the slain victims.
“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,” the agency said in a statement on Sunday.
The DILG, meanwhile, commended the Quezon City Police District and the Anonas Police Station “for their swift action that led to the immediate arrest of the suspect.”
Aside from Furigay, also killed in the shooting were Victor George Capistrano, who was the executive assistant of Furigay, and Jeneven Bandiala, a security guard of Ateneo.
Suspect Chao Tiao Yumol, 38, a licensed general practitioner doctor, had managed to sneak guns inside the grounds of Ateneo.
READ: Gunman in Ateneo shooting was a ‘determined assassin,’ says QC police chief
This, despite the gun ban imposed in Metro Manila in preparation for the first state of the nation address of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Yumol was shortly arrested after the incident.
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