UPLB mourns student's slay in founding rites

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna, Philippines – It was a day of mixed mourning and celebration at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) here yesterday.

UPLB observed its 103rd anniversary as it mourned the violent death of its student, Ray Bernardo Peñaranda, in the hands of two holdup men on a street just about a hundred meters from the campus’ front gate.

The killing and other violent incidents in this university town have led to the sacking of the entire Los Baños police force.

“As we rejoice to celebrate another fruitful year of the university and of the College of Agriculture, we also mourn the loss of our student Ray Bernardo Peñaranda,” UPLB Chancellor Rex Victor Cruz said yesterday in a program marking the university’s more than a century of existence.

Cruz led UPLB in joining Peñaranda’s family “in their search for justice… and let us continue praying for the security and safety of our studentry and of the whole Los Baños community.”

Los Baños Mayor Anthony Genuino yesterday offered P50,000 reward for the arrest of Peñaranda’s killers, bringing the total reward to P250,000. – With Ed Amoroso, Evelyn Macairan