MEMBERS of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) has condemned the killing of former Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay during a graduation ceremony in Quezon City on Sunday, July 24, 2022.In a statement issued on Sunday night, July 24, LCP president and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said that he and the 145-strong members of the league condemned “in the strongest possible terms the brutal murder” of the former mayor.Furigay was gunned down inside the Ateneo de Manila University in Katipunan, Quezon City on Sunday afternoon, July 24, 2022.Furigay was in the university to attend her daughter’s law school graduation.The suspect, Dr. Chao-Tiao Tumol, was arrested by authorities after the shooting.Two more individuals, including Furigay’s aide and a university employee, were killed in the shooting.Hannah, Furigay’s daughter, was wounded.“This cowardly act executed in broad daylight is a sobering call for vigilance and a cry for restoring peace and order,” said Rama.Rama added that he was told that Furigay was an active member of the LCP in which the former mayor served in 2019 in the LMP’s national executive board as regional representative for the Bangsamoro Administrative Region for Muslim Mindanao.“The life of Furigay may have ended abruptly but her legacy of public service will continue to inspire her fellow civil servants,” said Rama.Rama further said the LCP will continue its advocacy to actively pursue efforts against criminality and lawlessness in order to keep the cities and people safe and secure.The LCP also offered its condolences to the families of the other victims who died during the shooting incident.Not involved in illegal drugsIn a related development, Furigay’s legal counsel has denied the allegation of the assassin, Dr. Chao-Tiao Tumol, that Furigay’s family has been involved in illegal drug operations and corruption activities.Lawyer Quirino Esguerra Jr. said there is no truth in the statements made by Yumol.“His story is untrue,” he said.Yumol, who was arrested immediately after the incident, admitted perpetrating the crime, saying he did it for the sake of his fellow residents of Lamitan who are denied privileges as a Filipino citizen due to the corrupt practices of Furigay and her family.He said he has already collected several “evidences” to prove that Furigay and her family have been involved in the illegal drug trade.Esguerra said the conflict between Yumol and Furigay started in 2018 when the Lamitan City Government, under the leadership of the latter, implemented a cease and desist order issued by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao government against the suspect’s infirmary clinic.He said Yumol’s clinic was located just across the street from the Lamitan City Hall.After his clinic was ordered closed, Yumol started posting malicious insinuations against Furigay and other City Government officials and employees that led to the filing of more than 70 cyber libel charges against him.Yumol earlier told the police that he cannot practice his profession due to the charges filed against him by Furigay.In a statement, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he was shocked and saddened by the incident.He ordered the law enforcement agencies to thoroughly and swiftly investigate the incident and bring all involved to justice.He expressed sympathy to the bereaved families of the victims. (IRT, TPM / SunStar Philippines)