19-year-old UPLB student found dead, possibly raped

A 19-year-old student of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, believed to be raped, was found dead with a gunshot wound in the head, GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali" newscast reported Thursday, citing police. Given Grace Cebanico, a Computer Science student, was found handcuffed and gagged in a grassy area inside the UPLB campus, said Los Baños Police chief Superintendent Dante Novicio in an interview with GMA reporter Ian Cruz. “Merong indikasyon na may paggahasa dito sa biktima dahil may nakita kami na pasa sa kanyang hita na galing ito sa malakas na suntok, at saka yung kanyang underwear ay wala siyang suot na underwear. Yung kanyang bra ay tanggal ang strap sa likod," Novicio said. The suspect has yet to be identified, “Balitanghali" reported.

Initial leads point to a possible hold-up before Cebanico was killed, according to the report. Cebanico’s friends said they last saw her at 2 a.m. last Tuesday after they met for a school-related activity. Cebanico’s remains lie in state at the Resurrection Chapels of the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish inside UPLB, the report said. The case was reminiscent of the Sarmenta-Gomez case, a rape-slay case, also in Los Baños, that reached national headlines in the early 90s. The victims — Eileen Sarmenta, who was raped and murdered, and Allan Gomez, murdered — were also UPLB students. Six people were found guilty of the crime, including then-Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez. — Paterno Esmaquel II/KBK, GMA News