19-year-old UP Los Baños coed robbed, slain

LAGUNA, Philippines – A third-year female student of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) was found dead with stab wounds Tuesday morning, and police have arrested one of two suspects.

Police said the victim, Given Grace Cebanico, 19, a BS Computer Science student, was identified by her relatives at the police crime laboratory.

Investigators said a certain Roland Soliman, 29, found Cebanico’s body in a grassy lot near the Institute of Plant Breeding road in UPLB at around 7:10 a.m. Tuesday.

A report reaching Chief Inspector Andres Simbajon Jr., spokesman of the Calabarzon police, said Cebanico was stabbed in the back, her mouth was gagged with a handkerchief, and her hands were tied at the back.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police director, said a tricycle driver, Percival de Guzman, 38, was arrested in connection with the killing. Another suspect, Lesterivan Lopez Rivera, a rural bank’s security guard, is being hunted. 

Police were eyeing robbery as motive, as Cebanico’s cellular phone, laptop and wallet were missing.

Contrary to earlier reports, Yahoo quoted UPLB Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Virginia Cardenas as saying that there “was no rape.”

According to Yahoo, UPLB students and alumni are changing their profile pictures to black ribbons, a move aimed to seek justice for Cebanico.

A black ribbon with the words “Justice for Given” is making rounds in UPLB, Yahoo said.

“I assure the university is cooperating with authorities so we would be able to bring justice,” Cardenas told Yahoo in a phone interview.

According to Yahoo, Cebanico supposedly left her dormitory, the 5th of September Mansion, at around 6 p.m. on Monday for a group meeting. After her meeting, she reportedly went home alone during the wee hours of the morning.

“This is a senseless act. It is unacceptable. We are saddened here in the university,” Cardenas told Yahoo, adding that security within and in the vicinity of the campus has been tightened.