The large university was put under lockdown, and the graduation ceremony at the on-campus law school was postponed, according to authorities.
Digital Desk: Authorities say a
heinous assault on a university campus in the vicinity of the Philippine
capital on Sunday resulted in the deaths of a former town mayor and two other individuals.
The assault happened just prior to a graduation ceremony.
According
to police, the suspect was caught in a car that he had taken control of as he
tried to escape from the Ateneo de Manila University in the Quezon City area.
The man had two weapons with him. He was halted by police and witnesses outside
the university gates.
The
large university was put under lockdown, and the graduation ceremony at the
on-campus law school was postponed, according to authorities.
The
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Alexander Gesmundo, was expected to speak
at the event but was instructed to turn back en route, according to officials.
Ferdinand
Marcos Jr., the newly elected president, vowed to look into the event at once
and penalize those accountable for the killings. He is scheduled to address a
joint session of Congress in the House of Representatives on Monday in the same
city where the murder took place, Quezon City, where the police and other law
enforcement officials had already enforced a weapons embargo and enhanced
security.
"We
are shocked and saddened by what happened at the Ateneo graduation today,"
said Marcos Jr. We mourn with the departed, the wounded, and those who will
continue to be affected by this tragedy.
Rosita
Furigay, a former mayor of Lamitan town in the southern Basilan province, along
with her assistant and a university security guard, were all killed in the
incident. Furigay's daughter, who was supposed to attend the graduation, was
hurt, and she was transported to the hospital, according to a police complaint.
In
a photograph shot at the scene, one of the deaths could be seen laying on the
ground next to a bouquet of flowers.
Although
the motive for the attack is still under investigation, Brig. Gen. Remus Medina
of the Quezon City Police said the suspect, a doctor, allegedly harboured
animosity toward Furigay for a very long time.
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