P100,000 reward up for UPLB student slay suspect

MANILA, Philippines—A P100,000 reward awaits those who can provide information that will lead to the arrest of the suspects in the killing of a 19-year-old University of the Philippines Los Baños student last Sunday.

The reward money was offered by the local government of Los Baños, through Governor Jeorge “E.R.” Ejercito, according to Laguna police director, Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz.

He made the announcement on Monday, following the release of an artist sketch of one of the two still unidentified suspects in the murder of third year UPLB BS Agriculture student Ray Bernard Peñaranda.

Police have also formed Task Force Peñaranda to track down the two suspects, one of whom was described to be around 5’5” tall, of medium built and fair complexion.

Peñaranda was stabbed in the chest by motorcycle-riding suspects while on his way home from dance practice with two others before dawn on Sunday. He was stabbed after supposedly refusing to hand over his belongings.

His companions rushed him to the Los Baños Doctors’ Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.