MSU student dies 9 days after shooting

OZAMIZ CITY –– The 20-year-old Mindanao State University (MSU) freshman who was shot by an unidentified gunman on October 17, died at the intensive care unit of Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) in Marawi City Friday night.

The victim, Ivan Polinar Almeda, a native of Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, was shot in the head while strolling with his friends at the commercial center inside the MSU campus.

In a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Office of Information, Press, and Publication of the school, MSU System President Habib Macaayong said the whole university mourns the death of Almeda and share the grief of his family in equal measure.

“It is a sad day for us MSUans. The shooting victim, Ivan Almeda, passed away last night despite desperate efforts to save him and the prayers of the community. Our only consolation is he is now in peace and spared further suffering and pain,” Macaayong said.

Macaayong has arranged for the university to shoulder the hospitalization expenses and the cost of embalming and transporting the remains of Almeda to his hometown.

“The entire MSU community cannot fully atone or make up for the tragic loss of Ivan Almeda. But we, the MSU leadership, will do all we can to lighten the burden of the bereaved family,” Macaayong said.

“We will see to it that the needs of the bereaved family in this time of sorrow are attended to. It is the least we can do. We ask everyone to pray for the repose of the soul of Ivan and for strength for the grieving family in dealing with their loss,” he added. /lzb