PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. vowed a swift investigation of the shooting incident that killed three people, injured a graduating law student, and cancelled the graduation rites at the Katipunan campus of Ateneo de Manila on Sunday.
In a brief statement posted in his Facebook page late Sunday, Marcos expressed his “shock and sadness” over the incident.
According to news reports, among those killed were former Lamitan, Basilan Mayor Rose Furigay; her aide, Victor Capistrano, and a security guard of the Ateneo university who tried to stop the shooter.
Furigay’s daughter, Hanna Rose, who was supposed to graduate from law, was among those injured.
The building was supposed to host the physical graduation of Ateneo’s graduating law students. The event was cancelled as a result of the shooting incident.
The Philippine National Police did not identify the victims, but the Quezon City Police District and even reports later identified one of them as former Mayor Furigay.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo was supposed to grace the graduation ceremony and was already at the school compound when the shooting happened.
The PNP said a suspect was in its custody and was continuing to investigate the incident.
Marcos vows justice
“We commit our law enforcement agencies to thoroughly and swiftly investigate these killings and bring all involved to justice,” President Marcos said.
He condoled with the families of the victims in the shooting.
“Our prayers go to the graduates, their families, the Ateneo community, and to the residents of Quezon City and Basilan,” Marcos said.
“We mourn with the bereaved, the wounded, and those whose scars from this experience will run deep,” he added.
Press secretary Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles also expressed her sympathies to the families of the victims as well as the Ateneo community for the tragic incident.
In its official Twitter account, the Metropolitan Manila Development authority (MMDA) confirmed the shooting just before 3pm. It issued this MMDA alert: “Shooting incident at c5 Katipunan Avenue Ateneo Gate 3 NB as of 2:55 p.m. PNP on site.”
Image credits: Ateneo de Manila University via Facebook