EDITORIAL - Another death at UPLB

The last time the University of the Philippines in Los Baños was rocked by a heinous crime was in 1993, when UPLB student Mary Eileen Sarmenta was gang-raped and brutally murdered and her boyfriend, fellow student Allan Gomez, was tortured and killed in the picturesque town of Calauan in Laguna. The mastermind of the crime, former Calauan mayor Antonio Sanchez, is serving seven life terms for the gruesome murders. His bodyguards who participated in the atrocity are also serving various sentences.

This week UPLB students started changing their profile pictures to black ribbons. It’s a gesture of mourning and a call for justice for Given Grace Cebanico, whose body was found near the Institute of Plant Breeding Road in Los Baños last Tuesday. The student of BS Computer Science was shot and stabbed dead.

In Metro Manila and other parts of the country, there have been several cases of robbers killing their victims over a mobile phone. In Cebanico’s case, there was more at stake: reports said her wallet, laptop and cell phone were missing. Cebanico’s assailant could have wanted the items for his own use. But many hot goods, particularly cell phones, are sold to fences. All over Metro Manila and several other urban centers, fences enjoy a thriving business.

Fences are among the biggest reasons for the commission of crimes against property. From cars to vehicle spare parts to copper wires from power lines and, yes, mobile phones, they make robbery a profitable undertaking. They ask no questions, caring little if a young man is stabbed dead for his cell phone or if a college student is fatally shot for her phone, laptop and some cash.

There is always the possibility that such crimes are committed for thrills. With two suspects now in police custody and charged, giving justice to Cebanico will help keep the UPLB community and the rest of Los Baños safe.