University of San Carlos campuses suspend classes for Montebon prayer vigil

CEBU CITY–Three campuses of the University of San Carlos, one of the biggest universities here,  suspended their classes to allow their students to attend the one-and-a-half- hour prayer vigil to seek for justice for the killing of a 17-year-old accountancy student.

The prayer vigil was held simultaneously  from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the  USC Main campus in downtown Cebu City, USC-Talamban Campus in Barangay Talamban and USC-South Campus in V. Rama Avenue.
Some teachers and school officials also attended the vigil for Karen Kaye Montebon, said Khen Aquino, vice-president of the USC Supreme Student Council.
The Wrocklage Yard of the USC Main was jam-packed with students, most of them wearing black shirts.
Montebon’s friend Trisha Guzman gave an emotional speech as she described how the victim was a good friend to her.
Eleonor Paclijan, USC chair of the accountancy department, also asked the students to continue praying for the soul of Montebon and justice will be served for  Montebon.
A white freedom wall with the words “We Seek for Justice” was also displayed where students wrote their messages, mostly calling for justice and the arrest of Montebon’s killer or killers.
Pieces of papers were also distributed where students also wrote their personalized messages for Montebon.
At the middle of the prayer vigil, candle lighting was also held by the students.
Aquino said they will continue wearing black shirts on Friday.

By Sunday, many students were expected to attend Montebon’s wake on board USC-owned buses at the St Peter’s Funeral Homes in Mandaue City.
The police in Lapu-Lapu City have said they have identified the suspect who killed Montebon inside her room in Corinthians Subdivision in Barangay Basak in Lapu-Lapu City on Tuesday morning.
Senior Supt. Armando Radoc, chief of the Lapu-Lapu City police, did not discount the possibility that Montebon knew her attacker or attackers.
“That’s a possibility,” Radoc said.