6 students face raps for schoolmate’s slay

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Philippines – Six college students are facing murder charges for allegedly killing a schoolmate in Barangay Lingsat here on Friday.

The suspects were identified as Brylle Lopez and his nephew Bryan Garcia, Rommel Gagua, Aaron Tapiz, Christian Abayon  and Melquiades Corpuz, all of Northern Philippines College for Maritime Sciences and Technology.

The suspects allegedly beat up their schoolmate Jerome Lopez, who died of a head injury.

City police chief Superintendent Julius Suriben said Brylle’s father surrendered him and his nephew to the police.

Brylle and Bryan were identified by Jerome’s cousin as among those who beat up the victim.

Inspector Vanessa Gabot, spokesperson for the city police, said Jerome and his friends were at an eatery when the suspects arrived and tried to touch the victim’s female companion.

The suspects were placed under the custody of their parents and guardian pending the filing of criminal charges against them.