Family and friends of former Lamitan City mayor Rose Furigay shared their memories to pay tribute to the slain former local official.
Furigay was among the casualties of the shooting that occurred on the graduation day of Ateneo law students last Sunday.
The former city chief was on the Loyola Heights campus of Ateneo de Manila University on July 24 to attend the commencement exercises of her daughter Hannah who finished her law studies.
Reports said that around an hour before the ceremony, suspect Chao Tiao Yumul or Yumol, a doctor, opened fire and shot the elder Furigay.
Furigay’s aide Victor George Capistrano was also killed, along with Ateneo security guard Jeneven Bandiala. The latter attempted to stop the shooter.
READ: 3 dead in Ateneo shooting | ‘He deserves to be named and recognized’: Filipinos mourn death of Ateneo guard
The shooting also injured Hannah, Rose’s daughter, and a bystander.
Furigay family lawyer Quirino Esguerra said that Yumul had a personal grudge against the former city mayor as early as 2018.
Yumul’s clinic was ordered to close since he was operating without a permit.
In 2019, the doctor surrendered to the police for 26 counts of cyber libel due to maligning government workers on social media.
ALSO READ: Ateneo shooting: What we know about suspect Chao Tiao Yumul
Meanwhile, members of the Loyala Schools community can contact the Ateneo guidance office for a one-on-one debriefing following the incident.
RELATED: Ateneo guidance office opens lines for one-on-one debriefing after shooting
On social media, testimonies about the former mayor flood the feed as Filipinos remembered their moments and memories with her.
“Mayor Rose Furigay was working to encourage people to visit Basilan. She and her family provided shelter and amusement when I was sent to interview GAMABA awardee, Uwang Ahadas. We visited Bulingan Falls & talked about the bright future ahead. I’m sure she’s very proud of Hanna,” writer Nash Tysmans wrote.
“I’ve talked to her once when I attended the Local Health Board meeting and she was nice and cool. A leader who brought several milestones to our city and a consistent Seal of Good Governance Awardee for 4 straight years. Rest in paradise, Mayor Rose Furigay. You will be missed,” hospital administrator Wais Mangking said.
“Such loss to the people of Lamitan City. One thing that I remember about her was her giving our fellow kapatids decent jobs in the city. The late mayor Rose Furigay was indeed a leader who was passionate and kind to everyone,” another Twitter user wrote.
“Nung nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon na ma-interview ang dating Mayor ng Lamitan na (si) Mayor Rose bago pa ang 2022 election, natanong ko siya if may plano pa siya ulit na tumakbo. Masaya niyang sinabi na hindi na para mas marami na siyang oras sa kanilang anak. Sabi nya, kaya na ‘yan ni Mayor Oric. Nakakaiyak naman ‘to,” lawyer Rosebell Sanson said.
The city government of Lamitan also honored its former chief and her aide on its Facebook page.
“The Local Government of Lamitan is saddened by the untimely death of our Beloved former Mayor Rose U. Furigay and LGU employee Mr Victor B. Capistrano. Your smile, laughter and your Legacy will forever be remembered. Rest in paradise!” it said.
Lamitan City was a constant recipient of the Department of the Interior and Local Government‘s Seal of Good Local Governance award for four consecutive years under Rose’s watch.
She served the Basilan city for nine years.
Reports also said that under Rose’s term, Lamitan earned several other awards. This is due to the city’s unprecedented infrastructure projects and delivery of basic social and health services to the city’s 45 barangays.
Rose also provided the land in Barangay Buahan where the Office of the Vice President under Leni Robredo put up its Yakan Weaving Center for the latter’s Angat Buhay program before.
