Online, offline rage vs killings in Los Baños

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[UPDATED] Protests are held as UP Los Baños student killed in predawn robbery try; killing third in 5 months

[UPDATED] MANILA, Philippines – The Los Baños, Laguna community is protesting both online and offline after a 19-year-old student was killed early Sunday, March 4, the third case in 5 months.

Ray Bernard Peñaranda died after he was stabbed in the chest by two suspects who tried to rob him and his two companions in the early hours of Sunday in Umali Subdivision, along F. O. Santos Street.

CCTV footage aired on television showed the suspects were riding a motorcycle when they attacked the group.

Peñaranda, a BS Agriculture student at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB), and his two companions were on their way home to their apartment when the suspects attacked them.

He was declared dead on arrival at the Los Baños Doctors Hospital, where he was rushed after the incident.

The Peñaranda case is the third killing recorded in the municipality in 5 months.

Last week, Rochel Geronda, a 14-year-old high school student and sampaguita vendor, was found dead in a lot in Demarces Subdivision, with her jogging pants around her neck.

In October, Given Grace Cebanico, a 19-year-old Computer Science major also studying at UPLB, was found dead along Apec Road, just outside the university grounds. She was killed after being raped, and was also robbed of her belongings.

Cebanico’s suspected killers have been arrested, while 5 suspects in Geronda’s death are under investigation by police.

White ribbon

Online, residents of Los Baños and students of UPLB are posting messages of anger and protest against the spate of killings in the town.

Many residents and students have replaced their Facebook profile photos with images of a white ribbon on a black background, calling for justice for Peñaranda.

Meanwhile, offline, two indignation rallies to protest the killings are set for the week, one on Monday, March 5, and another on Tuesday, March 6.

Both rallies, which will be held at the UPLB campus, will call on the local government to address the series of violent crimes in the university town.

“This string of killing has yet to cause the municipal officials to act, citing the still lacking presence of police near UPLB and its surrounding communities,” the UPLB University Student Council said in an official statement on its Facebook page.

The UPLB USC and other stakeholders will also hold talks with the Los Baños municipal government, led by mayor Anthony Genuino, on Monday, March 5.

Where’s the mayor?

Residents are also criticizing Genuino and the municipal government for what they say is an increase in violence in the town.

“This string of killing has yet to cause the municipal officials to act, citing the still lacking presence of police near UPLB and its surrounding communities,” the UPLB University Student Council said in an official statement on its Facebook page.

“People of Los Banos are mourning, aghast, and disgusted that the local government seems to not be doing anything,” a statement from Dakila Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism said, adding that it seems “nothing has been done” since the Cebanico incident.

“Is this a reflection of a reactive rather than a proactive leadership? UPLB students are now asking, ‘Nasaan si Ton Genuino?’ (Where is Ton Genuino?),” Dakila added.

Meanwhile, Supt Dante Novicio, the town’s police chief, has been relieved, along with 50 other members of the municipality’s police force.

Novicio earlier denied this, telling the Los Baños Times on Sunday he is set to leave his position this month to undergo trainings on a ‘senior executive course.’ – Rappler.com

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