Los Baños police force sacked over UPLB student's slay

MANILA, Philippines – Los Baños police chief Senior Superintendent Dante Novicio and his 53 men were sacked from their posts for failing to act on the robbery and killing of Ray Bernard Peñaranda, a third year BS Agriculture student of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) last Sunday.

“We decided to replace the chief of police and his men because it seems they are not working. There have been a lot of incidents (of crime) and it only means that they are not conducting patrols,” Southern Tagalog Region police director Chief Superintendent James Melad said.

Melad said Novicio and his men would be replaced by policemen from the regional office led by Chief Inspector Conrad Masungsong.

As this developed, police released an artist’s sketch of one of the suspects.

Chief Inspector Orlando Castil Jr., Laguna-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief, told The STAR Peñaranda’s schoolmates described one of the killers as 5’5” to 5’6” in height, medium-built and fair skinned.

The victim was stabbed in the chest by two motorcycle-riding men at around 1:30 a.m. in Barangay Batong Malake in Los Baños, Laguna.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police director, said the sketch was based on the description given by the dorm mates of Peñaranda, who were with him when the suspects blocked their path and announced a holdup.

“We showed them pictures of robbers operating in Los Baños and nearby areas and they were 80 percent sure of two of them,” said Cruz, adding that he could not divulge the identities of the suspects at this time.

Cruz said he created “Task Force Peñaranda” to handle the investigation and arrest the suspects.

Cruz ordered his men to conduct a 24-hour checkpoint and patrol near the vicinity of the UPLB.

Meanwhile, a P200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects has been put up.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said he is giving a P100,000 reward while Laguna Gov. George “ER” Ejercito Estregan is offering another P100,000.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Malacañang supported the relief of the entire Los Baños police over the incident.

“These killings strike at the very heart of the peaceful, orderly and safe community that UPLB has been,” Lacierda said.

“We will not rest until justice is done and the perpetrators are punished. We would like to assure concerned faculty, parents, students and all those in the UPLB community that steps are being taken to make the campus a safe place to work and live in and visit,” he added. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ed Amoroso, Non Alquitran, Delon Porcalla