Police eye tighter security at UPLB area

Following the abduction and brutal killing of a 19-year-old student at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, police in Laguna province are eyeing tighter security around the campus and a crime prevention campaign for students. Laguna police chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz said he is considering an updated security survey around the UPLB area and a campaign to give students tips on how to avoid becoming victims of crimes. "Siguro kailangan magkaroon ng bagong security survey, especially ganitong schools lalo [na] may malalawak na lugar. Siguro crime prevention education kailangan dagdagan natin," Cruz said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said students tend to be the most likely targets of criminals in the area. Earlier in the day, an indignation rally was held at the UPLB campus where students, faculty and staff called for justice for Given Grace Cebanico. Police now have in custody two suspects in the abduction and brutal killing of Cebanico. Cebanico was found handcuffed and gagged, with a gunshot wound to the head and bruises on the body. The Given Grace case is reminiscent of the Sarmenta-Gomez case, a rape-slay case, also in Los Baños, that reached national headlines in the early 90s. The victims — Eileen Sarmenta, who was raped and murdered, and Allan Gomez, murdered — were also UPLB students. Six people were found guilty of the crime, including then-Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez.

Suspects Facing possible murder charges for the Given Grace case are bank guard Lester Ivan Lopez Rivera, and tricycle driver Percival de Guzman. On the other hand, he said they are still determining if the girl was raped, although he said there were "indicators" she was molested. Cruz said Rivera had contacted the police through a local provincial official and indicated his intention to surrender. He said negotiations broke off Thursday night, but on Friday the police were told that Rivera was in Pampanga. Rivera was brought to Laguna police headquarters from Pampanga. — RSJ, GMA News