Police eye lead in arrest of suspects in UPLB student’s slay

MANILA, Philippines – Police said they have information which may lead to the arrest of the suspects in the murder of a student at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, an official told INQUIRER.net Thursday.

Given Grace Cebanico, a third year college student, was found Tuesday, sprawled in a canal along IPB Road, Barangay (village) Putho Tuntungin, near the boundary of the university campus and the International Rice Research Institute.

Cebanico was found with her hands bound behind her, mouth gagged with a handkerchief and tape. Aside from the bruises in her body, there was a stab wound in her back, and a gunshot wound to her head, Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna provincial police director, said.

Cruz said they had information which may lead to the arrest of the suspects but were mum on the details of their operation.

Chief Superintendent Gil Meneses, Calabarzon police director, said initial investigation showed that Cebanico was forced into a tricycle by the suspects near the campus and may have been raped before she was killed.

Students from UPLB have taken their call for justice to cyberspace, sending their outrage and condolences via tweets and through Facebook.