‘Conflict over Dota’ eyed in student’s slay

PRELIMINARY investigations have shown that a conflict on a computer game could be the motive of the killing of a university student inside the Mindanao State University campus in Marawi City on Monday evening, June 2.

Inspector John Van Luspo, assistant team leader of Charlie Maneuver of MSU-Marawi, told Sun.Star-Cagayan de Oro that the conflict due to a computer game is becoming stronger after Luspo's team conducted preliminary investigations.

After inquiries at the internet café, Luspo said Samuel Go, who played Dota before he was shot, was gambling on the stakes and didn't pay up because he wanted a rematch.

“Parang ang kitid-kitid naman ng utak ng pumatay. Normal na ang trash talk sa paglalaro ng Dota. Dapat di na yan umiipekto [sa nakakarinig],” said Yasser Nasser Galvez, Go’s classmate during his first year.

“Another tragic incident in MSU. All because of Dota. Dati "Dota o ako" ang dilemma ng mga girlfriends. Ngayon, "Dota o Buhay mo" na. The virtual game went real. This time, it really killed a human being,” posted Sharr Lucero on Facebook.

Possible angles on love and involvement with a woman was also found out, Luspo said.

Fransbert Tocong, Go’s co-major in the Agricultural Engineering program and cottage mate (boardmate), said that Go was the quiet type and played Dota with his roommates.

Luspo said that they do patrols in the campus every night but that the suspect took the chance to shoot Go when no patrol team was around.

After the incident, he said they launched heavy patrol together with the Police Keeping Force (PKF) of MSU and the police, especially in the commercial center. They also patrolled in the areas where rampant cases of holdup and robbery are reported.

He added that the MSU administration still has not given any order yet regarding Go’s case except for a spot report to initiate an investigation.

Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro tried to reach the MSU administration, its Division of Student Affairs, and its Supreme Student Government (SSG) but the calls were not answered.

#justice

Friends and schoolmates of the murdered Mindanao State University (MSU) student mourned as they recalled Go's presence in their lives.

#Justice, referring to Samuel Go III’s shooting inside the MSU campus in Marawi City filled the social networking site like Facebook. It also shows the sentiment of some students who knew the victim.

Galvez described him as “mabait, friendly, madaling kausap. With his personality, he could barely have any enemies,” he added.

John Bryan Polvinsano, Go’s cousin, said he was a good person.

“He was a good brother to his siblings. He was a good son too,” Polvinsano said, adding that Go is also a bit of a shy person.

Jop, a colleague of his in the College of Agriculture, said that Go was also with his long-time girlfriend, Claire Lujero Aguinaldo.

He also said that he just got back to the campus from Surigao City to enroll on the night he was shot.

Juan, not his real name, said he was with his roommates and they were heading to the water refilling station to fill their water containers when a loud gunshot was heard near Hamida’s. The crowd immediately dispersed, hiding and disappearing among it was the suspect.

He said that his knees froze from the sound and was only pulled by his roommates to flee from the commotion.

Devastated parents

Go’s parents are devastated on their son's fate, Polvisano said.

A vigil for Go was held in Iligan City on June 3. Polvisano said Go’s remains were taken back to Surigao City on Wednesday.

“Sayang kasi pinag-aaral siya sa MSU at malayo pa tapos andali lang binawi ang buhay niya,” Polvisano said.

“Nasayangan mi sa iyang kinabuhi kay wala’y hustisya,” Tocong said.

“Justice lang gyud,” Juan said.

“We're just hoping that whoever killed my cousin, he is bound to pay. We want justice,” Polvisano said.

Messages of mourning and goodbyes flooded Go’s Facebook account, most were reminiscing how good of a person he was.

“Today, I curse someone for murdering a fellow student last night. We were at the vicinity but we ran away to secure ourselves. The assailant is unknown to us. No name, no whereabouts,” Adrian Sacan posted on his Facebook timeline on Wednesday.

“I hope this doesn't mean there'll be no justice for the victim. I know your (Go) dreams, efforts, and your parents' dreams are gone. Sam wherever you are, may you rest in peace. Just always remember there is a room for everything when we have faith. Everything includes God's wrath and incomparable justice,” Sacan posted.

Last October 2012, MSU instructor Prof. Othello Cobal and Hotel and Restaurant Management student Erwin Diaz were shot and burned in Mindnolia Internet Café.

On January 2013, Jovert Algoso, a ‘balut’ vendor was also shot dead in the commercial center.

Both incidents happened inside the university campus.