Slain UPLB coed laid to rest

MANILA, Philippines - Slain University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) student Given Grace Cebanico was laid to rest in Binangonan, Rizal yesterday.

At least 6,000 mourners, majority of them wearing white and lavender, Cebanico’s favorite color, attended the funeral at the Sto. Rosario Memorial Park in Binangonan town.

While Cebanico’s body was lowered to her final resting place, several mourners released white balloons in the air.

Earlier, a necrological service was held at the Darangan Church.

Cebanico’s father said it is not only her daughter who was killed by the two suspects, bank security guard Lester Ivan Rivera and tricycle driver Percival de Guzman, “but his entire family.”

The family was happy though that Cebanico was given justice with the arrest of Rivera and De Guzman.

Police earlier filed rape with homicide charges against the two, but Laguna Gov. Jeorge Ejercito wanted them amended to rape with murder and robbery.

Cebanico’s iPhone was recovered from De Guzman, while her laptop was traced to a pawnshop.

“There were elements of robbery, murder and rape based on the results of the examination of evidence during the investigation… so we must file new criminal charges against the suspects,” he said.

Ejercito said the heinous crime should prompt authorities to bring back the death penalty.

“Imagine the victim was raped before she was killed by the suspects and (her body) was dumped near a canal,” said the governor, who extended P100,000 financial assistance to the Cebanico family.

The body of Cebanico, a third-year BS Computer Science student at UPLB, was found at a grassy lot along the Institute of Plant Breeding Road in Barangay Tuntungin, Los Baños last Oct. 11. It bore stab and bullet wounds. 

Meanwhile, Cebanico’s mother Marlene renewed her call for justice and for improved security in schools so other parents would not feel her grief.

In a radio interview hours before her daughter was buried, Mrs. Cebanico said that while she trusts that justice will be served soon, she urged the Philippine National Police to thwart criminals preying on students.

Mrs. Cebanico thanked all those who helped her family during their trying times and expressed hope that “God will reward” them.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police director, said two teams of policemen were deployed to maintain peace and order in the funeral. – With Ed Amoroso