The killing of the father of Chao Tiao Yumol, the suspected gunman behind the deadly Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) shooting, might have been an “offshoot” or consequence of the first bloodbath that occurred in the university, a ranking police officer disclosed.
Rolando Yumol, 69, was shot dead by two bike-riding suspects in front of his house in Brgy. Maganda, Lamitan City, Basilan on Friday morning, July 29. He sustained four gunshot wounds in the body.
The killing happened five days after his son was arrested for allegedly shooting to death former Lamitan City, Basilan Mayor Rosita “Rose” Furigay, her aide Victor Capistrano, and university guard Jeneven Bandiala during a law school graduation at the ADMU in Quezon City last July 24.
“This, I just believe, an offshoot of the shooting of our former mayor although it is still under investigation,” said Brig. Gen. Arthur Cabalona, regional director of the Police Regional Office in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM), in a radio interview over DZBB.
Cabalona revealed that the elder Yumol actually received threats on his life after the Ateneo shooting.
“Actually, the provincial director engaged him and went to him yesterday because of the reported threats on his life. He was advised to stay inside his house. We have since sent security personnel to secure him on a daily basis,” Cabalona said.
“Unfortunately, at around 6:55 a.m. this morning, he went out of his house even before his security arrived. That’s when the suspects onboard a motorcycle shot him. Probably, he did not anticipate it because he was also carrying a caliber .45 gun,” he added.
Because of the incident, Cabalona said that other relatives of the Yumol family have since left their residences in Basilan and Zamboanga to hide.
“I have received information that the other relatives have also taken precautionary measures. They all left,” he said.
According to police, Yumol was a former member of the Philippine Constabulary, the predecessor of the Philippine National Police (PNP). He retired 13 years ago.
The PNP said that the BARMM police was already investigating the incident even as it urged the public not to spread malicious information that the elder Yumol’s killing was part of a revenge kill following the Ateneo shooting incident.
“So far it is speculative to assume its direct relation to the shooting incident that happened last Sunday at the Ateneo de Manila University,” said Police Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba, PNP spokesperson.