(UPDATED) Former Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay and two other individuals were killed following a shooting incident at the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) on Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City on Sunday, July 24, 2022.
Quezon City Police Director Brigadier General Remus Medina said the other casualties were Victor Capistrano, a local government employee, and a still unidentified security guard of AdMU.
He identified the suspect as Doctor Chao-Tiao Yumol, 38, a resident of Lamitan City, who was immediately arrested minutes after the incident with the help of the public.
The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. at the Areté building of AdMU where a law school graduation was supposed to be held.
The event was canceled following the incident.
Medina said Yumol was able to enter the university premises on board a ride-hailing vehicle and joined the crowd in order to enter the building.
Following the shooting, Yumol snatched a vehicle from the other attendees of the event and sped off.
“Noong papalabas siya, may mga nabangga siya na tao, kaya hinabol siya ng taong bayan at nabugbog pa nga siya,” Medina said, adding that police immediately conducted a dragnet operation after receiving the report.
(When he left with the vehicle, he bumped into some people, so pedestrians chased him and even beat him up.)
Yumol was cornered by the police along Aurora Avenue.
Two firearms and various ammunition were recovered from the suspect.
The suspect was one of the wounded individuals in the incident aside from Furigay’s daughter Hannah who is already in a stable condition, according to Medina.
Medina said Yumol also has a gunshot wound, although it was not clear yet as to who shot him.
He said that according to the suspect, there is a long-standing feud between him and Furigay in Basilan.
History of feuding
Medina said Furigay filed 76 cyber-libel charges against Yumol, which is one of the reasons why he cannot practice his profession.
“Initially, sa pagtatanong namin sa kanya, meron na silang long history ng away sa Lamitan Basilan, So, according to [him], nagpapalitan na sila ng kaso. Itong si doctor laging nape-pressure sa family ng mga Furigay. Lumalabas personal ang away nila,” Medina said in a press conference.
(Initially, when we asked him, they were already feuding in Lamitan, Basilan. According to [him], they were always throwing cases at each other. This doctor was always felt under pressure from the Furigay family. Their feud was getting personal.)
“Kinasuhan siya (Yumol) ng cyber-libel. Nakulong rin ito, nakapag-bail lang. Meron silang away na matagal na sa Basilan. May ina-allege din si Doctor Yumol na katiwalian ni mayor,” he added.
(Yumol was charged with cyber-libel. He was also jailed but bought bail. They have a feud that has been going on for a long time in Basilan. Doctor Yumol also alleged some anomalies by the mayor.)
Medina said Yumol admitted that he flew to Manila only to execute Furigay.
“Wala siyang address. Tinatanong naming saan siya nakatira at nagtatago, palipat-lipat siya, natutulog siya sa kalasada, sa sasakyan, palipat-lipat siya. Mukhang determined assassin lumalabas itong si Doctor Yumol,” he said.
(He has no address. We asked where he lives and hides. He said he moves around, he sleeps on the road, in the car. Doctor Yumol appeared to be a determined assassin.)
Medina maintained that the incident was an isolated case. (SunStar Philippines)