by JOEL CALAMBA ESCOL, Managing Editor
MDNN National News (July 29) – The father of Dr Chao Tiao Yumul, suspect in the killing of Lamitan former mayor Rosita Furigay and 2 others, was shot dead Friday morning in front of his store in Barangay Maligaya, Lamitan, this province.
Responding police operatives identified the victim as Rolando Yumul, 69, a retired member of the Philippine Constabulary. He died after being shot at least four times in the fatal parts of his body just outside his own store in Barangay Maligaya. His immediate family brought him to a nearby Lamitan District Hospital, but attending physicians declared him dead on arrival.
Witnesses said two motorcycle-riding suspects barged into the Yumul residence and without provocation shot him four times that caused his untimely demise.
People are speculating that it was an act of revenge like a muslim tradition called “rido.” But PNP public information office chief Brigadier General Roderick Alba said all these are mere speculations.
“Our police personnel in Lamitan City are already conducting an investigation regarding the crime. So far, it is speculative to assume its direct relation to the shooting incident that happened last Sunday at the Ateneo de Manila University,” Alba said.
Colonel Tadzhabel Managola, Chief of Lamitan Police Station told the media the father of Dr Yumul was shot using a .45 caliber pistol.
“We just confirmed with the Lamitan City Police that Dr Yumul’s father was shot by still unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects at around 6:30 to 7:00 am,” reports Police Lieutenant Eirene Mazon, officer-in-charge of the regional police information office at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Dr Yumul, Rolando Yumul’s son, was the lone suspect in the killing former Lamitan mayor Rosita Furigay and his long-time executive assistant Victor Capistrano; including the death of the university’s security guard.
Political observers are speculating that the killing of the father was an act of revenge but police investigators tagged all these as mere speculations until the assailants remain at large.
