Mohaimen Adza during his presentation to the media after his surrender on Friday (15 March 2024). Photo courtesy of City Government of Cotabato
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 16 March) — A 31-year old man who said he was responsible for the death of a working scholar at Notre Dame University surrendered Friday to Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao.
Mohaimen Adzal, a resident of Barangay Layug, Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur said he didn’t know why he killed Michael Jan Mangulamas, 21.
Adzal shot Mangulamas with a .45 caliber pistol several times last March 10 along Mazenod Avenue in this city. The victim, who died on the spot, was on his way home after attending a church activity.
The suspect wore a cap, a jacket and a face mask, making him unrecognizable when he was presented in a press conference at the City Hall by Matabalao and Cotabato City Police Director Col. Querubin Manalang Jr.
Matabalao said they received surrender feelers from the suspect that were channeled through Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education.
“We consider the case as closed now, no more speculations or whatsoever,” the mayor said.
Asked earlier, Manalang said they were looking for a personal motive behing the killing.
During the press conference the reporters were not allowed to throw questions at Adzal. Matabalao was the one giving the information.
The incident created fears among several netizens who said “some people could just kill someone for no reason in the city.”
Notre Dame University students and several netizens condemned the attack on Mangulamas and demanded justice and a safe city in light of previous unsolved cases of shooting incidents. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)
