Slain UP-Los Baños coed laid to rest

BINAN CITY, Philippines   – The 19-year-old B.S. Agriculture student of the University of the Philippine-Los Baños, who was slain by a robber at his residence here last Monday, was buried yesterday afternoon.

Hundreds, including relatives, friends, schoolmates, classmates and members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, attended the burial of Maria Victoria Reyes at the Forest Lake Cemetery in Barangay San Vicente.

Reyes’ father, Sixto, thanked the police for the early solution of his daughter’s killing after prime suspect, Benigno Nayle Jr.,  gave himself up Friday afternoon in Barangay Sambat, Tanauan City, Batangas.

“I need to be strong particularly to my husband and we need to move on for my daughter. She does not want to see us sad,” Reyes’ mother, Candida, said in an interview with the media.

Senior Superintendent Fausto Manzanilla, Laguna police director, said he instructed Biñan police chief Superintendent Leonard Luna to deploy at least 15 policemen to secure Reyes’ funeral.

Manzanilla told The STAR the  preliminary investigation of the case against Nayle will be held at the Biñan prosecutor’s office on Thursday.

Nayle had been charged with robbery with homicide.  

“ We have an airtight case against him, his alibi is weak and not accepted. It was normal for the suspect to deny he committed a crime,” Manzanilla said.

Manzanilla said at least three witnesses saw Nayle fleeing from the Reyes residence at Ferlins Subdivision with bloodstains on his T-shirt.  

Meanwhile, Laguna Gov. Jeorge Ejercito handed a check for P500,000 to former barangay chairman Gonzalo Atienza, who facilitated the surrender of Nayle. Atienza is said to be the suspect’s grandfather.

Three witnesses also received their share of the reward, Manzanilla said.