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Former Lamitan mayor Rose Furigay's remains brought to Basilan
ZAMBOANGA CITY - The remains of former Lamitan City mayor Rose Furigay were flown from Manila to Mindanao on Sunday morning.
Furigay's casket was on the flight that arrived at 6:40 a.m. at the Zamboanga International Airport.
Furigay's husband, incumbent Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay, accompanied the late mayor's remains.
LOOK: Mga labi ni dating Lamitan City, Basilan Mayor Rose Furigay, dumating na sa Zamboanga City. | via @PeeweeBacuno pic.twitter.com/ijkTL3qZDD
— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 30, 2022
At the airport, former Zamboanga City Mayor led the prayers for her close friend.
From the airport, Furigay's casket was brought to the Westmincom then loaded onto a boat headed for Basilan.
The late mayor's casket arrived in Barangay Calagusan, Lamitan City, Basilan at 8:25 a.m.
Many residents went to the Calagusan Port to await the arrival of the casket.
UPDATE: Mga labi ni dating Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay, dumating na sa Basilan. | via @PeeweeBacuno pic.twitter.com/HIy37fabLF
— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 31, 2022
From the Calagusan Port, the convoy traveled to the city proper to reach the Furigay home.
Along the way, residents went out of their homes to see the convoy drive past.
LOOK: Mga taga-Lamitan City, Basilan, sumalubong sa pagdating ng mga labi ni dating Mayor Rose Furigay. | via @PeeweeBacuno pic.twitter.com/XBgNgDbAuq
— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 31, 2022
Several residents were also waiting outside the Furigay home for the late mayor's casket, sadness etched on their faces.
The wake will be held for three days at the Furigay home, and the burial has been scheduled on Wednesday.
Mayor Roderick Furigay said he would like to let the highest authority know that they are crying for justice for his family.
Likewise, he also hoped that justice will prevail in the shooting of the suspect's father. Rolando Yumol, a retired policeman and father of suspect Dr. Chao Tiao Yumol, was gunned down in Lamitan on Friday.
Mayor Roderick said he would like the nation to know that he and his family, and the residents of Lamitan, are peace-loving people.
The mayor said he is hoping that the investigation will be finished soon.
He added that they are the victims, and he is wondering why his family is being accused of being involved in the death of the suspect's father.
Earlier, on Saturday, at the wake for Furigay at the Cosmopolitan Chapels in Quezon City on Saturday, Mayor Roderick thanked all those who expressed condolences and prayed for them.
Furigay was shot on Sunday, July 24, inside the campus of Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City by Yumol whom police said had a personal grudge against the former mayor. The Furigays had earlier filed 76 cyber libel cases against the gunman due to his accusation that they were involved in the illegal drug trade.
The victim and her daughter Hannah, who was to have her graduation from Ateneo Law School that day, just got off their vehicle when the suspect fired at them. Furigay later passed away while Hannah was injured.
Aside from the former mayor, also dead were Furigay's aide Victor Capistrano and Ateneo security guard Jeneven Bandiala.
Yumol has been charged with murder and frustrated murder, among other complaints filed against him.
The suspect has been transferred to the Bureau of Jail Management And Penology (BJMP) in Payatas, Quezon City on Saturday after being under police custody at Camp Karingal.
Furigay daughter speaks
A daughter of the late mayor meanwhile on Saturday denied allegations of her mother’s involvement in the illegal drug trade.
In an Instagram post, Kelsey Rose Furigay shared photos of certification from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) clearing their family’s involvement in drug trade.
Kelsey said the PNP DEG issued a certification that cleared their family’s involvement in drug trade last September 20, 2019.
She added that a certification from PDEA of the Bangsamoro Autonomus Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) also certified that the former Lamitan City mayor had no pending case involving Republic Act No. 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
She also cited the achievements of her mother, while serving as Lamitan City mayor from 2013 to 2022.
“My family is even receiving death threats from trolls or the killer’s sympathizers or supporters. Which is why I decided today to not be silent, and I will fight for what’s left—my mom’s good name,” Kelsey wrote.
“I ask all our family, our friends and our supporters to fight with me. PLEASE. Because this is not politics! This is life. This is our lives. Let us preserve our humanity,” she added.
The Furigay’s legal counsel earlier said that Yumol has a personal grudge against Furigay after the local government ordered the closure of his infirmary clinic for supposedly operating without the necessary permit.
In a separate post, Kelsey also denied their family’s involvement in the death of Yumol’s father who was shot by unidentified assailants.
Kelsey said her father immediately called the authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident.
“We do not condone violence and killing. We beg the people and the country… No more. With everything going on, we need to unite and work together, not hate each other,” the daughter of the former mayor said.
She also appealed to the public to let her family mourn in peace.
“We do not have it in our hearts to think of revenge because the pain is just too grave. Please I am begging on my knees.. To the public as a daughter, as a sister, as a fellow Filipino citizen, no more lives shed and no more violence. Let my family mourn in peace,” she added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Yumol's mother, Muykim, appealed to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for help after they received reports that their lives were in danger, GMA News' Chino Gaston and Efren Mamac reported Friday on “24 Oras.”
Authorities have yet to determine the identity and motive of the suspects who killed Rolando. —Peewee Bacuño and Richa Noriega/KG, GMA News
