Victim's ma calls for better security

MANILA, Philippines - The mother of a University of the Philippines student who was critically wounded when two men tried to rob her at the university student council office urged UP officials yesterday to improve security in the university’s Diliman, Quezon City campus.

Connie Hina said the attack on her daughter, Lordei Camille Hina, should be an “eye opener” on what should be improved in the campus. She stressed that parents should feel secure whenever their children are in school.

Trophy, icepick used in attack

Police said Lordei was alone, with two laptops, in the university student council office at the Vinzons Hall Wednesday afternoon when two men tried to steal the equipment from her, according to GMA News.

Lordei tried to fight back but the men hit her on the head with a trophy and repeatedly stabbed her in the face with an icepick. Connie said the icepick pierced her left temple and went through the other side of her head.

A security guard caught one of Lordei’s alleged attackers, identified as Danmar Vicencio. He has been charged with robbery and grave physical injury, with bail set at P300,000.

“Our friends egged us to get the laptop. We were on drugs, that’s why it happened,” GMA News quoted Vicencio as saying.

Police are hunting down Vicencio’s companion, Dante Santos. Investigators said the two men were able to enter Vinzons Hall by introducing themselves as tattoo artists applying for a booth at the university fair, usually held just before Valentine’s Day.

Connie said the injuries Lordei sustained affected her sensory perception, consciousness, sight, speech, motor skills and memory. She said surgery would do more damage at this point, and Lordei will be under observation for six months.

“I still believe in divine healing,” she said.

Connie said skull fragments are still embedded in Lordei’s brain.

Rebuilding confidence

Also yesterday, the UP administration said there would be increased visibility of the UP Diliman police “especially in the vicinity where the incident happened in order to rebuild confidence.”

Quezon City police officers are not allowed to enter the campus unless with permission from UP officials.

In a statement posted on the UP Diliman website, a special committee is recommending that security personnel, armed with metal detectors, be deployed at the entrances of all colleges, dormitories and buildings on campus to check the identification cards and bags of students, faculty and visitors.

“The UP administration is profoundly affected and deeply saddened by the incident that happened at the university student council office at the UP Vinzons Hall,” UP said in a statement.

The officials said they are monitoring Lordei’s condition and are “committed to provide support to Ms. Hina and her family.”

The day after the attack, UP Diliman Chancellor Caesar Saloma called for a meeting with the security and welfare committee “to assess the status of the case and to examine our current campus security arrangement with the aim of making it more effective.”

“Consultations with the students, employees, and administrators will be conducted to promote more vigilance and to come up with measures to ensure the safety and welfare of UP Diliman stakeholders,” the UP statement read.