By Katrina Gracia Consebido
Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman condemned the senseless killing of Rolando Yumol, the father of suspect Chao Tiao Yumol in the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Manila University last Sunday.
The older Yumol was killed by still unidentified assailants outside his residence on Friday morning, July 30.
In a statement, Hataman expressed his sympathies and called on authorities to investigate the incident.
“Kailanman at sa kahit na anong dahilan, walang saysay ang pagkitil ng buhay. Anumang uri ng karahasan ay walang lugar sa ating lipunan kung nais nating umunlad at kumawala mula sa imahe ng kaguluhan sa ating lalawigan,” Hataman said.
“It is our hope that this latest act of violence would not progress into a series of violent actions. Huwag nating hayaang maging normal ang pagkitil ng buhay sa ating kultura, lalo na kapag nadadamay ang mga inosenteng mamamayan,” he added. “It is not who we are as Basileños, as Filipinos and as human beings.
The lawmaker also called on Basilan residents to ensure that the progress they have worked on to attain will not go into waste.
“Nagsisimula pa lamang tayong bumangon mula sa pandemya na nagpadapa sa ating ekonomiya at kabuhayan. Kailangan nating magsumikap na mapanatili ang kapayapaan para sa kapakanan ng ating lalawigan,” he said.
“At nananawagan tayo sa lahat, lalo na doon sa mga naglalagi sa social media: Maging mahinahon sana tayo sa mga oras na ito at maging mapagmatiyag sa pagsasamantala ng iba na layuning ilihis ang ating paghahanap ng hustisya para sa lahat,” he added.
He also called on netizens to refrain from fueling the fire, as baseless accusations may result in more untoward incidents. –ag
READ MORE: Father of Ateneo shooting suspect killed
