Furigay’s remains arrive in Lamitan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Wearing black shirts, residents of Lamitan, Basilan went out to the streets yesterday to pay their last respects to former mayor Rosita “Rose” Furigay, who was killed in an attack last week at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

Furigay’s remains, accompanied by her husband Mayor Roderick Furigay and escorted by personnel of the Philippine Navy, arrived in a PN multipurpose attack craft at a pier in Barangay Calugusan.

Under an overcast sky, residents flashed placards and streamers expressing their sympathies as the convoy bearing Furigay’s casket passed through.

Furigay’s remains were laid at the family’s residence in Barangay Malinis for public viewing.

She was killed along with her executive assistant Victor George Capistrano and Ateneo security guard Jeneven Bandiala while attending the graduation ceremony of her daughter Hanna.

Hanna was seriously wounded in the attack perpetrated by her mother’s critic, Chao-Tiao Yumol, who was arrested by responding police officers.

Barely two days before Furigay’s remains arrived in Lamitan, Yumol’s father was shot and killed by unidentified assailants.