A gunman opened fire inside Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City on Sunday afternoon, killing three people, including former Basilan mayor Rosita “Rose” Furigay.

Who was Rosita Furigay?

Rosita Furigay, who hails from a political clan in Lamitan, won her third term as mayor of the city in 2019. Her husband, Roderick Furigay, was the city’s first mayor. He held office from 2004 to 2013, serving three full terms in a row. Rosita succeeded him and continued in office until 2022. During the most recent election in May 2022, Roderick took over the role once more. Their nephew, Hegem Furigay, was named the vice mayor.

Before joining politics, Rosita Furigay graduated with a degree in pharmacy from San Carlos University in Cebu City. She then started her own business.

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Meanwhile, during her tenure as mayor, Lamitan was awarded the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Seal of Good Local Governance award for four consecutive years. Several infrastructure projects were implemented in the city during her term, resulting in the city winning several awards, both local and national. 

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On Sunday, Rosita Furigay arrived at theAteneo de Manila University to her daugther, Hannah Furigay’s graduation ceremony. She was, however, killed along with her aide and a university security guard. Hannah also sustained serious injuries in the shooting and was rushed to Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

Preliminary investigation revealed that attack might be rooted in a personal grudge of the suspect, Dr. Chao Tiao Yumol, against Rosita that could be traced to 2018 when she ordered the closure of her clinic because it was operating without a permit from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.