Father of Ateneo shooting suspect Yumol shot dead in Basilan

BASILAN, Philippines – Motorcycle-riding gunmen shot dead the father of Ateneo shooting incident suspect Chao Tiao Yumol in Lamitan, Basilan, early Friday morning, July 29.

Police said the victim, Rolando Yumol, died after being shot at least four times outside his house on Rizal Avenue in Barangay Maganda in Lamitan at around 6:45 am on Friday, July 29.

The incident happened less than a week after the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, where former Lamitan mayor Rosita “Rose” Furigay was killed, along with her executive assistant and an Ateneo security guard.

The elder Yumol was given a decent burial by his relatives on Friday afternoon, just hours after he was attacked.

The Philippine National Police said the police was investigating the incident and that it was “speculative” at this point to link the attack to the Ateneo shooting.

“Our police personnel in Lamitan City is already conducting an investigation regarding the case. 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 PNP public information office chief Brigadier General Roderick Alba.

The lawyer of the Furigay family, Quirino Esguerra, said his clients were saddened over the killing of Dr. Yumol’s father.

Lamitan City Police Office acting director Lieutenant Colonel Tadzhabel Managola said investigators were still in search of clues and were practically still facing a blank wall, hours after the elder Yumol’s shooting death. 

Neither did investigators have a suspect in mind as of this posting.

Managola also called on the public to be circumspect in their comments and refrain from making speculations in public about the violent gun attack. – Rappler.com