The legal counsel of slain former Lamitan City Mayor Rosita Furigay said that the family is calling for a thorough investigation on the death of Roland "Bobong" Yumol, father of the Ateneo de Manila University gunman, after he was shot outside his house in Lamitan City, Basilan on Friday morning, July 29.
"Kami po ay nagulat at ang pamilya po ay nalulungkot na nangyari 'yan (The family was shocked and saddened by what happened)," Atty. Quirino Esguerra said in an interview with Teleradyo on Friday, July 29.
"Hiling na lang po ng pamilya sa pangyayaring ito ay magrequest sa PNP (Philippine National Police) na magconduct ng thorough investigation kung sino po ang responsable dito (The family requests the PNP to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the persons responsible)," he added.
At around 6:55 a.m. on Friday, July 29, the elder Yumol, 68, a retired policeman, and father of Ateneo murder suspect Dr. Chao Tiao Yumol, was shot by two motorcycle riding-in-tandem suspects in Lamitan City.
The Lamitan City police said he was declared dead on arrival at the Lamitan District Hospital from four fatal bullet wounds.
Esguerra asked the public to refrain from speculating on the motives for Yumol's shooting.
"Sana po huwag natin paghusgan ang pamilyang Furigay. Ever since nagkaroon ng pagyurak sa kanilang karapatan, sila po ay pumunta sa korte at piskalya. Unfair naman po na bigla nating i-judge o ihusga na sila ay may kinalaman dito (Let's not pass judgment on the Furigay family. Ever since the family's rights were violated, they went to the proper authorities, to the court. It is unfair to suddenly judge or suspect that the family is involved in this incident)," the lawyer said.
'In grief'
The Furigay family is still in grief, Esguerra said.
Roderick, the husband of Rosita Furigay, remains in Quezon City, where Rosita's wake is being held.
Hannah Furigay, the former mayor's daughter, is still in the hospital, but is in stable condition. She is recuperating from the gunshot wounds she sustained in her kidney, colon, and one that grazed near her left eye, their lawyer said.
He added that they may need to consult a psychiatrist to address the trauma she experienced.
Roderick and Hannah only communicate virtually and through phone calls, he said.
Multiple murder raps
The Quezon City Prosecutor's Office indicted Dr. Yumol on Wednesday, July 27, after the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) filed multiple charges against him on Monday, July 25.
The charges included three counts of murder in relation to Sec. 29 of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition), one count of frustrated murder in relation to RA 10591, one count of violation of Sec. 3 of RA 10883 (Anti-Carnapping Law), one count for violation of Sec. 31 of R.A. 10591, and one count of malicious mischief.
Esguerra said that they have received a copy of these cases on Thursday, July 28.
"Ang pamilya po ay satisfied sa trabaho ng Quezon City police, ng ating kapulisan sa pagkahuli sa kanya at sa pagka-file kaagad ng kaso (The Furigay family is satisfied with the work of the Quezon City police in catching the suspect and swiftly filing the appropriate charges)," he said.
Esguerra added that Yumol has also been served the seven cyber libel cases that were pending in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 in Davao City.
The multiple murder case covers the slaying of the mayor's executive assistant Victor Capistrano, and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) security guard Jeneven Bandiola on Sunday, July 24.
Esguerra said they are also asking the PNP to investigate the .45 caliber pistol found in Yumol's possession, which belonged to an active soldier as confirmed by the Philippine Army (PA) on Tuesday, July 26.
According to PA spokesperson, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, the gun, owned by First Lt. Jeremy Aquino, was lost during his deployment in Patikul, Sulu in 2019.
Trinidad said that Aquino was shocked that it was found in Yumol's possession and was used in the shooting.
"We even requested the PNP to file the necessary charges against him if indeed this was lost or if he reported it to the proper authorities," he said.