MSU officials condemn shooting of student, appeal for sobriety

By ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL

October 19, 2019

MSUS President Habib Macaayong, center, and wife Rehanna visited Ivan Polinar Almeda in the hospital. (MSU photo)

MARAWI CITY: Officials of Mindanao State University (MSU) here condemned the shooting of a student in the university commercial center even as they assured of their relentless effort to bring the culprit suffer the full force of the law.

Police identified the victim as Ivan Polinar Almeda, 20, of Bayugan, Agusan del Sur.

Ivan Polinar Almeda of Bayugan in Agusan del Sur, a freshman in the MSU College of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation, was shot in the university commercial center. (Photo from Almeda’s FB page)

Col. Madzghani Mukaram, police provincial chief of Lanao del Sur, said Almeda was walking with three female friends inside the MSU campus when the gunman emerged and, without provocation, shot Almeda with a .45 caliber pistol. A single bullet casing was found in the crime scene.

He was then rushed to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center where he is recuperating. 

Mukaram said an investigation has been launched by police.

Dr. Habib W. Macaayong, MSU System president, appealed for calmness and sobriety.

In a statement, Macaayong said, "The dastardly shooting of an innocent freshmen student is an unfortunate but isolated case. We condemn the brutal act in the harshest terms. As University President and father, I ask everyone Muslims and Christians alike, to pray for the victim."

Macaayong assured that all security measures are in place and that an investigation is now being conducted with the cooperation of the PNP and the Army. "All means will be exhausted to find the perpetrator and make him suffer full force of the law," he said, adding that everything is under control. 

Macaayong visited the victim the victim recuperating in the hospital and assured his family that MSU will investigate and provide all the necessary means to find bring to justice the culprit. 

The MSU president extended assistance to help in the victim's hospital expenses, and gave instructions to Division of Student Affairs (DSA) Director Labimombao Macabando and College of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (SPEAR) Hendeley Adlawan and Division of Security Services (DSS) to closely coordinate with proper authorities for the speedy investigation of the case.

He also further instructed the MSU Legal Division, Director Atty. Zed Abantas to give aid to the victim and his family in terms of legal matters. (RSP)