By Diann Calucin
Dr. Chao Tiao Yumol pleaded "not guilty" to charges of three counts of murder, frustrated murder, and car theft filed against him in an arraignment at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC) Branch 98 on Friday, Nov. 11.
Yumol also pleaded not guilty to illegal possession of firearms and malicious mischief last Aug. 2.
Yumol is the suspect in killing former mayor Rosita Furigay of Lamitan City, Basilan, Furigay's executive assistant Victor Capistrano, and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) security guard Jeneven Bandiala during a shooting incident in a law graduation ceremony at ADMU last July 24.
Furigay's daughter, Hannah Rose Marian Furigay, survived the shooting.
Yumol's arraignment was postponed last Aug. 4 after his lawyers claimed that Yumol showed signs of mental disorder and requested the QCRTC to allow him to undergo an immediate mental status examination. It was postponed for the second time last Sept. 16 because Yumol's mental test has not yet been completed.
After undergoing a series of mental examinations, National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) declared Yumol fit to stand for trial when it submitted a medical report on Oct. 24