Suspect says UPLB killers are frat men

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—The suspected lookout in the killing of University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) student Ray Bernard Peñaranda has been arrested and has tagged two other suspects, alleged members of a fraternity, in the killing, who are still at large, authorities said on Wednesday.

Joseph “Sebo” Beltran, 25, is in police custody and was presented to media. Beltran allegedly acted as a lookout while one of two other suspects killed the 19-year-old Peñaranda.

Police quoted Beltran as identifying the two other suspects as a certain Carl “Dactil” De Guzman, 27, and Tyrone Kennedy Terbio, 19, from Barangay San Antonio here. De Guzman allegedly drove the motorcycle that the suspects used to escape, while Terbio was the one who allegedly repeatedly stabbed Peñaranda in the chest.

Terbio and De Guzman are members of the fraternity Tau Gamma Phi, Beltran was quoted as saying. Beltran was also quoted as saying that Terbio is the nephew of the village chief of Barangay San Antonio. De Guzman is the son of a village watchman of Barangay Batong Malake and had been arrested for drugs in the past. Terbio is also wanted for a previous robbery case.

Police said Beltran turned himself in last Tuesday, quoting him as saying he “felt sorry for the victim.”

Police raided the house of De Guzman on Raymundo Street in Barangay Batong Malake here but he was not there. They also raided the house of Terbio’s girlfriend, Aileen, in Barangay Bayog but Terbio was not there, too.

Beltran told reporters allowed to interview him that he joined De Guzman and Terbio because he wanted to have money for his wife. He said he was jobless.

Beltran said on late Saturday afternoon, he and the two other suspects hung out at Vega Center, a small mall outside the gates of UPLB, after they had a drinking binge to prey on potential robbery victims at about 8 p.m.

“The first target was a female student. We were supposed to follow her in Sta. Fe Subdivision but we lost our chance when she turned to the other direction,” Beltran said.

He said they boarded a motorcycle and went around the Umali Subdivision twice to look for other victims when, at about 1 a.m., they chanced upon Peñaranda and his friends on F.O. Santos Street.

“I got off the motorcycle when (Terbio) announced a holdup,” Beltran said. He said Peñaranda’s companions fled and sought help.

Beltran said Terbio, armed with a fan knife, stabbed Peñaranda when the student put up a fight.

He said Terbio and De Guzman immediately fled aboard the motorcycle while he fled on foot when people started noticing the commotion.

Beltran said Terbio and De Guzman were responsible for the series of thefts and robberies in students’ apartments in Umali Subdivision. He said they took laptops, cell phones and pieces of jewelry.

Beltran told police he suspected that Terbio was also involved in the rape and murder of 14-year-old Rochel Geronda on Feb. 27. On the other hand, De Guzman is the cousin of tricycle driver, Percival, who was arrested for the rape and murder of UPLB student Given Grace Cebanico in October 2011.