Visitor charged in UP attack

MANILA, Philippines - A visitor arrested for allegedly attacking a student and robbing the University of the Philippines (UP) student council office in Diliman, Quezon City has been charged before the city prosecutor, a police official said yesterday.

Superintendent Michael Macapagal, commander of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 9, said Carlo Pelayo underwent inquest proceedings late Thursday for robbery, serious physical injury and illegal possession of a bladed weapon.

Pelayo admitted to having used a trophy to hit Lordei Camille Anjuli Hina on the head during the robbery on Wednesday afternoon. Hina, a fourth-year political science major, fell unconscious and remains confined at the Capitol Medical Center.

The suspect was caught leaving Vinzons Hall carrying an ice pick and items from the student council office. His companion, Danmar Vicencio, remains at large.

Macapagal said Hina’s mother wanted to file a complaint for frustrated homicide but the fiscal decided to charge Pelayo with serious physical injury.

‘Isolated case’

Macapagal maintained the robbery was an “isolated case” and that UP’s Diliman campus remains “safe.” Quezon City police officers are not allowed to patrol on campus without coordinating with the UP administration.

Macapagal said he believes the suspects just managed to see an opportunity for the crime. Hina was left alone in the council office when her friend went down to buy food.

He said UP has its own guards and the UP Diliman Police.

Macapagal said the Vinzons Hall security guards asked for Vicencio’s identification card because he and Pelayo were outsiders.

Macapagal said QCPD personnel patrol the periphery of the Diliman campus. He added that UP’s security personnel could improve their patrolling and screening of outsiders, especially those entering the campus’ buildings.