Ateneo shooting victims ‘one step closer’ to attaining justice

MANILA, Philippines — Over two years after a shooting at the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) in Quezon City that left three people dead, the families of the victims are one step closer to attaining justice.

Prosecutors completed their presentation of evidence in 2024, which included the testimonies of 28 witnesses, 17 of whom have identified Chao Tiao Yumol as the shooter.

Yumol shot dead former mayor Rosita Furigay of Lamitan City, Basilan, her executive assistant Victor Capistrano and AdMU security guard Jeneven Bandiala.

The shooting occurred before the start of a graduation ceremony for law students on July 24, 2022.

Furigay’s daughter Hannah, who was among the graduates, was also shot by Yumol, but she survived.

Quirino Esguerra, counsel for the Furigay family, said Yumol’s lawyers would present five witnesses for his defense before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 starting on Jan. 24.

Barring major delays, Esguerra is confident the trial will be finished in 2025.

Esguerra said the Furigays remain hopeful that they will get justice.

“We hope that justice will be delivered,” Esguerra said in a phone interview.

The court usually holds hearings on the case three times a month, he said.

“In all fairness to the judge, he focuses on the hearings. He does not conduct hearings of other cases,” Esguerra said.

Yumol had a long-standing feud with the Furigay family, accusing Rosita and her husband, Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay, of being involved in the illegal drug trade.

“The Furigay couple are the drug lords of Basilan. They are friends with the judge in our area,” Yumol said shortly after his arrest.

The Furigays also filed cyber libel complaints against Yumol.

The trial encountered delays after Yumol’s lawyers asked that he be examined by doctors as he seemed to be exhibiting symptoms of insanity.

But he was deemed fit to stand trial, based on the assessment of doctors at the National Center for Mental Health.

“He was checked by five specialists and it was found out that he acted lucid,” Esguerra said.