“Shock” was what former vice president Leni Robredo felt upon learning of the shooting incident that killed former Lamitan City, Basilan mayor Rose Furigay, who she described as a strong supporter of her Angat Buhay programs.
Robredo posted on Facebook about Furigay, who was slain inside the campus of the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City on Sunday, July 24, by a gunman who was later apprehended by the police.
The former vice president and now chairperson of the Angat Buhay NGO remembered that Rose and her husband were “strong supporters” of her Angat Buhay program, which she started under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) during the previous Duterte administration.
“She, and her husband, Mayor Oric, were strong supporters of our Angat Buhay program in Lamitan,” she wrote.
“Lamitan City Government, under her leadership, provided the land in Barangay 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,” she added.
Robredo lamented how the incident, which soiled what would have been an occasion that marked “the culmination of the many years of hard work of the graduating law students”, happened in broad daylight.
READ: Basilan ex-mayor, 2 others killed in Ateneo shooting; cops say arrested gunman is a doctor
She was also saddened by the death of Jeneven Bandiala, the Ateneo security guard.
“It reminds us to keep on pushing back on everything that promotes a culture of impunity,” she said.
Furigay was at the university to attend the Ateneo Law School graduation of her daughter, Hannah Furigay, who was wounded during the shooting incident.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) named the two other fatalities as Bandiola and Victor George Capistrano, a longtime aide of Furigay.
Police Brig. Gen. Remus Medina, director of the QCPD, said two others were injured in the gun attack.
He identified the gunman as Dr. Chao Yumol, also a native of Lamitan City.