Furigay family ‘shocked, saddened’ by death of Ateneo gunman’s father

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

MANILA, Philippines — The family of former Lamitan City mayor Rose Furigay was “shocked and saddened” by the murder in Basilan of the father of the alleged gunman in the Ateneo de Manila University shooting.

Qurino Esguerra, a lawyer of the Furigay family, made the statement after Rolando Yumol, father of the alleged gunman Chao Tiao Yumol, was shot and killed in a gun attack in Lamitan City.

“Kami po ay nagulat at ang pamilya po ay nalulungkot na nangyari yan,” Esguerra said over Teleradyo.

(We were shocked, and the incident saddens the family.)

“Ang hiling na lang po ng pamilya sa pangyayaring ito may mag-request sa PNP (Philippine National Police) na mag-conduct ng thorough investigation  kung sino po ang responsable dito po,” the lawyer added.

(The family wishes that the PNP conduct a thorough investigation to determine who is responsible for this incident.)

The 69-year-old Yumol was shot four times outside his residence.

Last Sunday, Furigay, her executive assistant, Victor George Capistrano, and university security guard Jeneven Bandiala were shot dead during the Ateneo College of Law graduation rites at the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City. Furigay’s daughter, Hanna Rose, among the graduates, was hurt in the gun attack.

Police identified the alleged gunman as the younger Yumol, a doctor from Lamitan City in Basilan. He was later arrested and is now facing criminal complaints following the shooting.

Meanwhile, Esguerra said it is unfair to link the Furigay family to the murder of the alleged shooter’s father.

“Unfair naman po na bigla natin i-judge or i-husga na may kinalaman sila dito,” he pointed out.

(It’s unfair to judge them that they are involved in this.)

/MUF/abc