Nurse is fifth victim in Ateneo shooting

A nurse who was supposed to witness the graduation of her son at the Ateneo de Manila University was among the wounded during the shooting rampage of physician Chao-Tiao Yumol at the ADMU campus on Sunday.

Julia Manabat, 54, was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center for a gunshot wound in her shoulder, according to an investigation report.

Police said Manabat was hit by a stray bullet and was later discharged from the hospital.

Maj. Wennie Ann Cale, spokesperson for the Quezon City Police District, said they did not include Manabat in their initial report of the incident as investigators were still verifying her condition in the aftermath of the shooting.

Manabat was at the ADMU to attend the graduation of her son when Yumol shot former mayor Rosita Furigay of Lamitan City, Basilan, Furigay’s daughter Hanah Rose Mariane and her aide, Victor Capistrano.

Furigay, Capistrano and security guard Jeneven Bandiala were killed in the shooting. The former mayor’s daughter was injured.

A police investigation report said the shooting happened as the vehicle carrying Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who was the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony, arrived in the area. Gesmundo’s close-in security responded and engaged Yumol in a shootout but the physician was able to escape.

Yumol forcibly took a Honda Civic sedan and drove away from the scene. However, he abandoned the vehicle and took a passenger bus bound for Rizal province but was arrested by police and peacekeeping officers.

Police said they are preparing charges of three counts of murder and frustrated murder against Yumol.

Justice

The family of Ateneo’s security guard is asking for help from President Marcos as they seek justice.

“We want justice. We hope that the gunman will be bothered by his conscience. Our brother did not do anything to you, he just did his job. Why did you shoot him?” Raymond Bandiala said in Filipino.

“I hope that my brother gets justice,” Mary Jane Bandiala added.

The siblings gave journalists a brief interview at a funeral parlor in Quezon City where Bandiala’s body was brought for safekeeping. The family said they plan to bring his remains back to their hometown in Ozamiz City.

Bandiala is being hailed as a hero by the ADMU community as he died while attempting to prevent Yumol from escaping the university grounds.

No remorse

Speaking to reporters on Sunday evening after his arrest, Yumol defended his actions and showed no remorse, as he alleged that Furigay and her husband, Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay, are drug traffickers in their province.

“The Furigays are drug lords in Basilan,” Yumol said, claiming that the drug problem in Lamitan is so severe that some 17-year-old residents of the city are drug addicts.

Yumol said his actions were in retaliation against the Furigays, who he claimed tried to assassinate him three times, adding he even sought assistance from the authorities using his social media platforms.

A staunch supporter of President Marcos, Yumol urged the Chief Executive to revive the war on drugs by his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Quirino Esguerra, lawyer for the Furigay family, vehemently denied Yumol’s allegations and stressed the physician had no evidence to back his claims. Esguerra said Yumol is facing at least 70 counts of cyberlibel filed by the Furigays and other officials in Lamitan.

Condolences

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has denounced the shooting incident and urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify its operations against illegal firearms.

“The Vice President sends her prayers and deepest condolences to the victims’ families. Such an act of violence should have no place in our society, especially in a place of learning – which is supposed to be considered a safe space for everyone, for the students mainly,” Duterte, through her spokesman Reynold Munsayac, said in a press statement.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) also expressed its sadness over the tragedy.

“We would therefore like to extend our condolences to the families of the victims of this act of violence and to the Ateneo community as a whole,” CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III said in a statement.

In a statement, the Catholic Educational

Association of the Philippines (CEAP) called on its fellow Catholic schools to offer prayers for the victims of the attack.

“We call on our brothers and sisters in the CEAP community to offer our prayers to the victims and their families,” said CEAP president Sr. Ma. Marissa Viri, RVM.

Condemnation

Senators condemned yesterday the shooting in Ateneo de Manila.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian urged authorities to get to the bottom of the incident, stressing that violence should have no place in the country, especially inside learning institutions like ADMU.

“I am strongly urging the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) to get to the bottom of this incident and ensure that justice is served,” the senator said. He also commended the law enforcers for prompt response that led to the immediate arrest of the suspect.

Senators Bong Go and Bong Revilla, in separate statements, condoled with the families of the victims.

“The more we should intensify our security. To our policemen, do not be complacent,” Go said, as he warned against the continuing threat of illegal drugs as he urged the general public to remain vigilant.

“We condemn this shooting incident in the highest possible sense. What should have been a momentous day to celebrate successfully surviving the rigorous process of the study of law has been destroyed by a senseless act of violence,” Revilla said.

Local officials

Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman said the incident was barbaric and something that needs immediate judicial closure, while Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman said he was saddened by the deaths of Furigay and two others.

Gerry Salapuddin, administrator of the Southern Philippines Development Authority, said he wants speedy justice for Furigay, Capistrano and Bandiala.

League of Cities of the Philippines national president Cebu city Mayor Mike Rama condemned the rampage. “This cowardly act executed in broad daylight is a sobering call for vigilance and a cry for restoring peace and order,” Rama said, adding that the 146-member league would pursue programs against criminality following the incident.