UPLB researcher dies, driver in ‘hit-and-run’ faces homicide

SAN PEDRO CITY –– The driver in the “hit-and-run” of a University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) researcher would be facing homicide charges after the victim, who was in a coma for days, died, authorities said.

Edilyn Lopez, a researcher in the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, died August 10, said Los Baños police chief Lt. Col. Louie Dionglay on Tuesday.

Both her parents are ranking officials assigned to the Police Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame and the Cordillera region.

In a phone interview, Dionglay said they would upgrade the case of physical injuries initially filed against Mark Joshua Peñarubia, 23.

Peñarubia, a skilled laborer on-call at the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI)-Department of Science and Technology in Los Baños, surrendered to police on August 9.

He admitted to driving the car that hit Lopez, a UPLB alumna, on August 7 along the national highway in Barangay Anos.

Peñarubia told police he came from a drinking session that night and sped away towards Calamba City after the incident.

The FPRDI, meanwhile, clarified that Peñarubia was not its employee but was only under a contract of service.

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