What's the local gov't of Los Baños doing?

Statement of Dakila UP Los Baños on the series of crimes happening in Los Baños

In a span of four months, a series of crimes have been committed in the town of Los Banos. Last October, a UPLB student, Given Grace Cebanico, was raped and killed. This week, three more crimes have been committed, only days within each other. Rochel Geronda, a student of Los Banos National High School was also found raped and killed; Ray Bernard Penaranda, an Agriculture student of UPLB was stabbed to death; 32-year old Rey Tamayo was also murdered merely hours after the incident of Penaranda’s death.

Crimes violate people’s human rights: the right to live and the right to security. Every person has the right to live with security and without the fear of being violated. While crimes seem inevitable in our society, it is the government’s obligation to protect its citizens.

The series of crimes in Los Baños is shocking and action should be taken, fast. The local government must do something about it, given that the place is home to thousands of students who are away from their families. Many lives have been wasted. Lives which had a lot promise; which could have been a great contribution to our country.

The University of the Philippines has always been proud of its excellence in educating young minds and many students have found their home in UPLB. But now, the series of crimes have put the students in fear and unease. What is an excellent education without a secure environment? UPLB hones its students to better contribute to the country but how can they do so if they face untimely deaths as victims of crimes? We always say that the youth is the future of our nation but where will our future lead us when the youth are being violated?

One cannot help but ask where the authorities are and what the local government is doing amidst all these incidents of human rights violations. People of Los Baños are mourning, aghast, and disgusted that the local government seems to not be doing anything. The rape-slay case of Given Grace should have alerted authorities and should have heightened security measures. But after it has been sensationalized, it seems nothing has been done. And now, more crimes have been committed and more lives have been lost. Is this a reflection of a reactive rather than a proactive leadership? UPLB students are now asking, “Nasaan si Ton Genuino?” (Where is Ton Genuino?) —the mayor of the town.

Now, the people of Los Baños are now crying for justice and may justice be served without delay. And the local government should always remember what the philosopher Seneca said, “He who does not prevent a crime, encourages it.”

(Dakila — Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism is a group of artists and students promoting advocacy through the arts. It has a local collective in UP Los Banos. NasansiTonGenuino is a twitter campaign demanding for the local government to act on the rising criminality in Los Banos.) —