Marcos saddened by Ateneo shooting; officials condemn killing of ex-mayor, 2 others

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday said he was shocked and saddened by the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Manila University that killed former Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay and two others.

“We are shocked and saddened by the events at the Ateneo graduation today. We mourn with the bereaved, the wounded, and those whose scars from this experience will run deep,” Marcos wrote in a Facebook post.

“We commit our law enforcement agencies to thoroughly and swiftly investigate these killings and bring all involved to justice,” he added.

Marcos also offered prayers to the graduates, their families, the Ateneo community, and residents of Quezon City and Basilan.

In her statement, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte said that such acts of violence should have no place in our society, especially in a place of learning — which is supposed to be considered a safe space for everyone.

While she sends her prayers and deepest condolences to the victims' families, she also "strongly urged [the Philippine National Police] to address gun violence in the country"

"Consistent operations against illegal firearms could be one of the effective measures to do this," said Duterte.

Meanwhile, former Vice-President Leni Robredo was shocked by the news of the shooting.

"[Ex-Mayor Furigay], and her husband, Mayor Oric, were strong supporters of our Angat Buhay program in Lamitan," said Robredo. "We have been to be the beautiful city of Lamitan many times and we join the people in their grief."

"That this happened in broad daylight,  at an occasion which marks the culmination of the many years of hard work of the graduating law students, and which included the killing of the Ateneo security guard make the incident more tragic."

Robredo said that the killings were a reminder for us to keep on pushing back  on everything that promotes a culture of impunity.

In a separate statement, Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman condemned the shooting.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the fatal shooting of former Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay and that of her bodyguard and a security personnel in the Ateneo de Manila University,” Hataman said.

“Ang krimen ay nangyari sa loob ng unibersidad ng Ateneo sa araw ng pagtatapos ng mga mag-aaral ng institusyon, kung saan ang anak ni Mayor Rose ay kabilang sa mga graduates," he added.

"Kaya mas lalong nakakalungkot ang nangyari kay Mayor Rose, isang magulang na buong kagalakang dumadalo sa pagtatapos ng kanyang anak, na isa sanang masayang kaganapan na sinira ng walang saysay na karahasan."

While the gunman has been arrested, Hataman urged authorities to identify the crime's mastermind.

He also offered condolences to Furigay’s family.

"At kay Lamitan Mayor Oric Furigay, ang aming taos-pusong pakikiramay. Madaming nagawa si Mayor Rose para sa Lamitan dahil sa kanyang progresibong liderato na dahilan upang magawaran ang lungsod ng Seal of Good Local Governance mula 2016 hanggang 2019," Hataman said.

"Dalangin din namin ang mabilis na paggaling ng kanilang anak at ang inyong pagbangon mula sa trahedyang ito. Kasama nyo kami sa panawagan ng hustisya," he added.

Meanwhile, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte similarly denounced the shooting, saying that it had “no place in our society and must be condemned to the highest level.”

“We request the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) to continue investigating this incident and ensure that swift justice is attained by the victims and their families,” Belmonte said in a statement.

“We also extend our sincerest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims who lost their lives in the incident,” she added.

Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero de Vera III was likewise deeply saddened by the "horrific" school shooting at the Ateneo.

"In addition to the tragic loss of lives, such events lead to post-traumatic distress among victims and to those who have witnessed these," said de Vera.

He added that he personally knew former Lamitan City Mayor Furigay and Mayor Oric Furigay, and he and the CHED would therefore like to extend their condolences to the families of the victims of the act of violence and to the Ateneo Community as a whole.

"CHED, and the entire higher education community, condemn this act of violence committed inside a higher education institution. We entrust our law enforcement authorities to bring to justice those responsible for this,"  said de Vera.

This incident also highlighted the importance of keeping campuses safe and secure as places of learning, inclusivity, and peace.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said it would strengthen the case against the suspect and would file necessary charges to put him behind bars. — DVM, GMA News