Belmonte offers P.1-M reward for UP Diliman rob suspect

MANILA, Philippines - House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has put up a P100,000 reward for anyone with information that would lead to the arrest of the second man who robbed and stabbed a student at University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Diliman, Quezon City last Feb. 1.

A statement on the UP website said Belmonte and UP president Alfredo Pascual, during a meeting at the House of Representatives yesterday, agreed that a cash reward would help speed up the arrest of Lordei Camille Hina’s alleged attacker, identified as Dante Santos, a resident of Antipolo City.

Belmonte, whose legislative district includes UP Diliman, also called on police to work double-time to catch the suspect.

Earlier, Carlo Pelayo was arrested by UP Diliman security personnel immediately after the attack on Hina. He is in the custody of the Quezon City police.

“The victim is now slowly recovering at the Capitol Medical Center though her medical bills are still piling up. A team of six specialists is taking care of her – a neurosurgeon, neurologist, internal medicine specialist, ophthalmologist, heart specialist and a physical therapist,” the UP statement read.

According to a Feb. 29 update from the UP Diliman chancellor’s office, “students, faculty members and employees are initiating their own fundraising activities to help defray the costs of Lordei’s hospitalization and her other needs.”

A month ago, Lordei’s mother, Connie, joined close to 100 UP students, in calling for a higher budget for UP, alleging that budget cuts resulted in the reduction of the number of guards deployed in the campus.

“My heart breaks when I look at my child now, who used to be full of life,” Connie said, adding she believes that her daughter will continue fighting for her life. “She will fight to get well. She has missions in life.”